VZCZCXRO7096
RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHDJ #0031 0131621
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 131621Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1229
INFO IGAD COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA FWD
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000031 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/13 
TAGS: PREL PINS DJ ER
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI: FONMIN REPORTS MORE ERITREAN PLOTTING 
 
REF: 09 DJIBOUTI 380; 10 DJIBOUTI 7 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: James Swan, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(B), (D) 
 
1.(C) Summary:  Djiboutian Foreign Mahmoud Ali Youssouf reports 
that a senior Eritrean Afar flag officer is training Afar recruits 
- including Djiboutians - in a further effort to destabilize 
Djibouti.  The Afar sultan in the area is also supporting these 
efforts, claimed Youssouf, who is himself Afar and follows 
developments in the community closely.  End summary. 
 
 
 
2.(C) Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf told 
Ambassador Jan. 11 that the Government of the State of Eritrea 
(GSE) has stepped up efforts to train and equip ethnic Afars to 
destabilize Djibouti.  An Afar himself, Youssouf said that 
President Isaias Afeworki had given the task to an Eritrean Afar 
flag officer, Admiral Humed (nicknamed "Karikare").  He said Humed 
is training Afar in the vicinity of Rehayto, Eritrea, ostensibly to 
counter domestic threats from the Eritrean "Red Sea Afar Democratic 
Organization," but in reality to prepare forces to threaten 
Djibouti.  The Afar Sultan of Rehayto is collaborating in this 
effort, and some Djiboutian men are among those being trained, 
Youssouf said.  (Note:  The realm of the Sultan of Rehayto extends 
south into Djiboutian territory, as far as Obock.  End Note.) 
 
 
 
3.(C) As background, Youssouf reported that Humed had previously 
been at odds with Isaias.  In April 2008 (Ref A), Youssouf had made 
contact with Houmed in an effort to open a channel to resolve the 
border dispute.  Humed was initially receptive, but later abruptly 
ended communication.  Isaias and Humed have now reconciled, 
Youssouf said, clearing the way for Humed to rally an Afar force to 
use against Djibouti. 
 
 
 
4.(C) Additional bio notes provided by Embassy Asmara:  Major 
General Humed Ahmed (or Mohammed) Karikare is the head of the 
Eritrean Navy.  He is an ethnic Afar and usually based in the 
Eritrean port town of Tio, between Assab and Massawa.  Karikare is 
reported to have been "frozen" by Isaias in 2006, but has since 
returned to good standing.  In 2007 he was instrumental in winning 
the release of a handful of British and French tourists kidnapped 
by Afar tribesmen on the Ethiopian side of the border, according to 
the British Ambassador. The Yemeni Ambassador also speaks highly of 
MG Karikare, saying he is the only person in the GSE who will talk 
to him when Eritrea seizes Yemeni boats and fishermen.  Karikare 
has not heretofore been associated with Isaias's black operations, 
and he is seen as a relatively helpful and cooperative senior 
Eritrean officer.  End additional bio notes. 
 
 
 
5.(C) Comment:  Despite the diplomatic success of UNSCR 1907, which 
sanctions Eritrea, the GODJ remains fearful of GSE infiltration or 
other military action to threaten Djibouti (Ref B).   As an ethnic 
Afar from Tadjourah region, Foreign Minister Youssouf tracks such 
threat reports closely.  While we are not in a position to 
corroborate Youssouf's information, Isaias's use of a senior Afar 
military officer and the Afar Sultan of Rehayto would be typical of 
GSE efforts to stir up trouble among minority groups in neighboring 
countries throughout the region. 
SWAN