Djibouti says it’s at war with Eritrea; French military provides Djibouti with intelligence and surveillance

14/o6/08

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A border dispute and a conflict over the ownership of a strategic area

Djibouti (see map) officials told they consider their country is at war with Eritrea (see map) after accusations of intrusions (on June 10) into its territory by Eritrean troops. “If Eritrea wants war, it will get it,” said Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh, after visiting troops. Djiboutian accusations were denied by the Eritrean government that recently left the Djibouti-based African Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) which plays an essential role to restore peace and confidence in the region. The crisis results from an ongoing dispute over the the ownership of the strategic Ras Doumeira areas (see map). “Fighting stopped in the last 36 hours but Djiboutian armed forces are in place to defend their territory from enemy incursion,” the Djibouti army said in a statement.

A common concern for France and the United States

The US and France, which both have

bases (special and counter-terrorist forces) in Djibouti, called for an end to the violence. 2,900 French troops and 1,200 US troops are stationed in the country. “We call on both sides to cease all military hostilities immediately and to reduce tensions by withdrawing troops from the border area, (…) The United States calls on Eritrea and Djibouti to move forward at once to resolve border issues peacefully, in accordance with international law, and for Eritrea to accept offers of third-party mediation.” US state department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said. “It is unfortunate that the US administration is currently embroiled in instigating, compounding and inflaming regional conflicts,” Eritrea’s foreign ministry replied. The French Foreign Ministry called “on both parties, particularly Eritrea, to commit to a cease-fire and resume dialogue.”

France gets involved in the conflict, defending Djibouti

France says its troops are providing logistical, medical and intelligence support to Djibouti in the country’s confrontation with Eritrea. “Since the beginning of hostilities, French soldiers stationed in Djibouti have been providing assistance in logistics, medical but also support in terms of intelligence service to the Djibouti army,” French officer Colonel Ducret told Djibouti’s state-owned news agency ADI (Agence Djiboutienne d’Information – see website). French troops have not been involved in the fighting with Eritreans, they have provided aerial surveillance of the border, informing Djibouti’s army about Eritrean troop movements.

International Community vowed its concern, UN Security Council condemned Eritrea

UN Security Council (see pdf) condemned “Eritrea’s military action against Djibouti,” and urged “both parties, in particular Eritrea, to show maximum restraint and withdraw forces to the status-quo ante.” Also, Eritrea must stop resisting international efforts to negotiate a cease-fire and peace “in a manner consistent with international law.” The African Union’s Peace and Security Council (see website) urged “the two countries to show utmost restraint, resort to dialogue to resolve any bilateral dispute, and give their full cooperation to all efforts.”