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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000018 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2018 
TAGS: KPKO PBTS PREL MOPS ASEC ER ET XW
SUBJECT: UNMEE FUEL UPDATE 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4 (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: UNMEE Force Commander Major General Mohammad 
Taisir (protect) estimates UNMEE can continue operations at 
the current reduced levels until January 31.  After that 
UNMEE would have to dip into its strategic fuel reserve, 
which Taisir said is only sufficient to move UNMEE's troops 
back to Asmara.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (C) Fuel Until January 31 
---------------------------- 
UNMEE Force Commander Taisir told the ambassador January 11 
that UNMEE has fuel sufficient to operate at the current 
reduced level only until January 31.  The government of 
Eritrea has not responded to UNMEE's repeated requests for 
its normal deliveries of fuel.  Further, Taisir said that an 
UNMEE proposal to use its trucks to import fuel from Sudan 
has gone unanswered.  Other UNMEE sources say UNMEE vehicles 
continue to refuel in Ethiopia, but that the Eritreans refuse 
to allow UNMEE vehicles to return with jerry cans or other 
extra fuel containers. 
 
¶3. (C) No Generalized Fuel Shortage 
----------------------------------- 
A/DCM noted over a dozen loaded fuel trucks plying the 
Massawa - Asmara road January 12-13, many of which were 
Eritrea Defense Force vehicles.  There is no shortage of fuel 
(apart from diesel) in Asmara at present and gas stations are 
operating normally. 
 
¶4. (C) Embassy Asmara's Assistance Sought 
----------------------------------------- 
UNMEE's Asmara-based political head, Dr. Lebohang Moleko 
(protect), sent the ambassador a message January 13 asking 
for Post intervention with Eritrean authorities to relive 
this fuel shortage.  Excerpts from the message of the Deputy 
Special Representative of the Secretary General to the 
ambassador follow: 
 
At the moment we are at a very critical stage.  Our 
operations have had to be scaled down, but this is not the 
biggest concern.  What is most worrying is fuel to run our 
refrigerators and communications; ...serious problems with 
perishables such as food and blood in our clinics, etc.  I 
have suggested (to Eritrean authorities) that we be given 
permission to bring fuel from our Mission in Sudan, but so 
far we have had no response.  I would like to ask for your 
assistance if you can be able to talk to someone who can make 
a more reasonable decision (than from UNMEE's military 
liaison).  Your help would be welcomed. 
 
¶5. (C) Comment:  While Major General Taisir was careful not 
to opine on any possible political motive for the Eritrean 
restriction of UNMEE fuel supplies, he did finally allow that 
the shortage "did not appear to be logistical in nature." 
Most observers here suspect the government of Eritrea is 
choking UNMEE in advance of the mandate renewal discussion to 
ratchet up pressure on the international community to force, 
in the GSE's view, Ethiopia to abide by the EEBC border 
ruling.  End Comment. 
MCMULLEN