2008 Djiboutian–Eritrean border conflict

Infobox Military Conflict


caption=Map of the Eritrea-Djibouti border
conflict=2008 Djiboutian-Eritrean border conflict
date=June 10 - June 13 2008
place=Ras Doumeira border region between Djibouti and Eritrea on the Red Sea Coast
casus=
territory=
result=Indecisive
combatant1=flag|Eritrea
combatant2=flag|Djibouti Supported by:
flag|France [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7453063.stm BBC NEWS | Africa | France backing Djibouti in 'war' ] ]
commander1=
commander2= Ismail Omar Guelleh
casualties1= Djibouti claims*:
~100 killedcite news|url=http://www.waltainfo.com/walnew/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=460&Itemid=47|title=Arab League calls on Eritrea to pull out of Djiboutian border ares|publisher=Walta Information Center|date=2008-06-13|accessdate=2008-06-14]
100 capturedcite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL12617339|title=Nine dead in escalating Djibouti-Eritrea clash|publisher=Reuters|date=2008-06-12|accessdate=2008-06-14]
21 defected
casualties2= 12 killed
55 woundedcite news|http://uk.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUKL14304427._CH_.242020080614|title=Djibouti president accuses Eritrea over border fight|publisher=Reuters|date=2008-06-14|accessdate=2008-06-14]
notes=* No official figures from Eritrean sources

The 2008 Djiboutian-Eritrean border conflict between the forces of Eritrea and Djibouti occurred between June 10 and June 13, 2008. It was triggered by tension which began on April 16, 2008 when Djibouti reported that Eritrean armed forces had penetrated into Djiboutian territory and dug trenches on both sides of the border.cite news|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gL9QNBhsJcQ2P1Nemm-xo5bSLMkQ|title=Djibouti-Eritrea border skirmishes subside as toll hits nine|publisher=Agence France-Presse|date=2008-06-13|accessdate=2008-06-14] The crisis deepened when armed clashes broke out between the two armed forces in the border area on June 10, 2008.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7450075.stm|title=US condemns Eritrea 'aggression'|publisher=BBC News|date=2008-06-12|accessdate=2008-06-14]

Background

Djibouti and Eritrea had twice previously clashed over the border area. In April 1996 they almost went to war after a Djibouti official accused Eritrea of shelling the town of Ras Doumeira.cite news |url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/08F6F498-733D-48AC-B2F5-49E008BBE01B.htm |title=Horn of Africa neighbours clash |date=2008-06-10 |accessdate=2008-06-13 |publisher=Al Jazeera English]

In 1995, Eritrea clashed with Yemen over the Hanish islands in the Red Sea, one of the world's major shipping lanes. Three years later, Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a two-year war over the border town of Badme, in which tens of thousands of people died. [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7390945.stm |title=Eritrea denies Djibouti war claim |date=2008-05-08 |accessdate=2008-06-13 |publisher=BBC News] In 1999, during that war, Eritrea accused Djibouti of siding with Asmara's rival Ethiopia, while Djibouti accused its neighbour of supporting Djiboutian rebels and having designs on the Ras Doumeira region. [ [http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Hornet/irin_111299b.html DJIBOUTI: IRIN Focus on mounting tension with Eritrea [19991112 ] ]

Eritrean movements in Ras Doumeira region

In January Eritrea reportedly requested to cross the border in order to get sand for a road, but instead occupied a hilltop in the region.cite news|url=http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Face-to-face-conflict-that.4139890.jp|title=Face to face conflict that threatens the sea lanes|publisher=The Scotsman|date=2008-06-01|accessdate=2008-06-14] On April 16 Eritrea is reported by Djibouti to have set up fortifications and dug trenches on both sides of the Djiboutian border near Ras Doumeira. Djibouti, in a letter to the UN calling for intervention, claimed new maps put out by Eritrea showed Ras Doumeira as Eritrean territory. Eritrea denied it had any problems with Djibouti. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7390945.stm|title=Eritrea denies Djibouti war claim|publisher=BBC News|date=2008-05-08|accessdate=2008-06-14]

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said on May 15 that the row was a "threat to the peace and security of the whole Horn of Africa" and said Ethiopia would secure their trade corridor through Djibouti in the event of a conflict. Ethiopia has relied on Djibouti for access to the Red Sea since Eritrea's independence. Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki denied sending troops into the area and added they do not have any problem with Djibouti. [cite news|url=http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnBAN538313.html|title=Ethiopia says ready to secure route to Djibouti port|publisher=Reuters|date=2008-05-15|accessdate=2008-06-14]

Armed clashes

On June 10 according to Djibouti several Eritrean troops deserted their positions fleeing to the Djiboutian side. Djiboutian forces then came under fire from Eritrean forces demanding the return of the deserters. Djibouti called up soldiers and police who had retired since 2004 in response to the fighting. Eritrea dismissed accounts from Djibouti as "anti-Eritrean". A statement from Eritrea's foreign ministry said it would not "get involved in an invitation of squabbles and acts of hostility" and claimed Djibouti was trying to drag Eritrea into its"concocted animosity."cite news|url=http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL11187409.html|title=Two dead in Djibouti, Eritrea border clash|publisher=Reuters|date=2008-06-12|accessdate=2008-06-14] According to French Colonel Ducret, French soldiers in Djibouti provided logistical and medical assistance to the Djibouti army as well as providing them with intelligence. [cite news|url=http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/212249,france-says-supporting-djibouti-in-clashes-with-eritrea--summary.html|title= France says supporting Djibouti in clashes with Eritrea - Summary|publisher=The Earth Times|date=2008-06-13|accessdate=2008-06-14] Clashes between the two forces reportedly continued for several days before Djibouti's military announced on June 13 that fighting had subsided. President Ismail Omar Guelleh said 12 Djiboutian soliders had been killed and 55 wounded during the fighting adding, "We've always had good relations. But they aggressively occupied part of our country. This is an aggression we are resisting."

International reaction

The League of Arab States held an emergency session in response to the fighting and called for Eritrea to withdraw from the border region.Fact|date=September 2008

The United Nations Security Council called on both sides to exercise maximum restraint and re-establish dialogue. [cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSL1261733920080612|title=Eritrea urged to withdraw from Djibouti border|publisher=Reuters|date=2008-06-12|accessdate=2008-06-14] UN document |docid=S-PV-5908 |date=12 June 2008 |type=Verbatim Report |body=Security Council |meeting=5908 |accessdate=2008-09-06|title=Peace and security in Africa]

The United States State Department issued a press release condemning Eritrea's "military aggression" saying it represented "an additional threat to peace and security in the already volatile Horn of Africa" and calling for Eritrea to accept third party mediation on the border dispute. [cite press release|url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2008/jun/105834.htm|title=Eritrea–Djibouti Border|publisher=United States Department of State|date=2008-06-11|accessdate=2008-06-14] Eritrea responded to the statement accusing the U.S. of instigating conflict in the region. [cite news|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/13/news/Eritrea-Djibouti-US.php|title=Eritrea denounces US 'meddling' in Horn of Africa|publisher=International Herald Tribune via the Associated Press|date=2008-06-13|accessdate=2008-06-14] The American embassy in Djibouti advised citizens against traveling to the northern Djibouti where Ras Doumeira is located for safety reasons. [cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/international-8/1213269565194090.xml&storylist=topstories|title=US citizens warned on travel in Djibouti|publisher=NJ.com via the Associated Press|date=2008-06-12|accessdate=2008-06-14]

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union urged Eritrea and Djibouti to exercise the utmost restraint and to resolve the dispute through dialogue including fully cooperating with an AU mission sent to the area. However, Eritrea, unlike Djibouti, had not yet accepted the mission. [cite news|url=http://www.afriquenligne.fr/news/africa-news/au-urges-djibouti,-eritrea-to-resolve-border-dispute-through-dialogue-200806136583.html|title= AU urges Djibouti, Eritrea to resolve border dispute through dialogue|publisher=Afriquenligne|date=2008-06-13|accessdate=2008-06-14] Bereket Simon, special adviser to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia told Reuters "Ethiopia firmly believes that such unwarranted action should be stopped immediately and peaceful and diplomatic solution must be sought for the problem."

Djibouti's leader has described the situation as a war. "If Eritrea wants war, it will get it," said Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh, after visiting injured troops. Asked whether the two countries were at war, he replied: "Absolutely".

French reaction

The French foreign ministry said it was highly concerned about the fighting. The French defense ministry announced they were increasing their military presence in Djibouti and increasing their support for Djibouti's army following the border clashes. The announcement also said France was "preparing to deploy a forward logistics base and a land force near the zone where the clashes took place," adding that "its military has stepped up air surveillance over the border to monitor the activities of Eritrean forces." Reports also indicate that additional naval forces are being moved to the region as well as an additional team of military surgeons.

French Defense Minister Herve Morin also held discussions with Djibouti's defense minister Ougoureh Kifleh Ahmed promising to strengthen the French military presence in the country in case there is "an escalation in the current border row." Also to reaffirm the "very great concern of France" over the recent border incidents, the French defense minister, according to diplomatic sources, has "reassured his counterpart of the full support" of Paris, at the same time calling for a "diplomatic" settlement of the issue. The two nations have a mutual defense agreement. [cite news|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/14/content_8369320.htm|title=France reinforces military in Djibouti following border clash|publisher=Xinhua|date=2008-06-14|accessdate=2008-06-14]

Aftermath

On 24 June 2008 the United Nations Security Council held a meeting at their headquarters in New York to hear a briefing of the situation, as well as statements from the Prime Minister of Djibouti Mohamed Dileita and the ambassador of Eritrea.UN document |docid=S-PV-5924 |date=24 June 2008 |type=Verbatim Report |body=Security Council |meeting=5924 |accessdate=2008-09-06]

A further meeting in September referred to the signing of a peace and reconciliation Agreement ("the Djibouti Agreement") between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) in Djibouti on 19 August 2008 and took note of a request for an international stabilization force to be deployed to the region.UN document |docid=S-PV-5970 |date=4 September 2008 |type=Verbatim Report |body=Security Council |meeting=5970 |accessdate=2008-09-06]

A UN fact-finding mission was sent to the region and issued a report saying the standoff between Djibouti and Eritrea could "have a major negative impact on the entire region and the wider international community" noting while Djibouti has pulled out of the disputed area Eritrea has not. The fact-finding mission was not allowed into Eritrea by the Eritrean government. [cite news|url=http://www.metimes.com/Security/2008/09/19/djibouti-eritrea_conflict_threatens_region/8d0e/|title=Djibouti-Eritrea conflict threatens region|publisher=Middle East Times|date=2008-09-21|accessdate=2008-09-22]

See also

*Eritrean-Ethiopian War
*Hanish islands crisis
*Foreign relations of Djibouti
*Foreign relations of Eritrea
*Military of Eritrea
*Military of Djibouti

References

External links

* [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/world/africa/25djibouti.html?pagewanted=1 A Conflict’s Buffer Zone: Rocks, and Inches] (by Jeffrey Gettleman, "The New York Times")