Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 5420 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
QA
YM YI YE

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09ASMARA429, ERITREA’S SQUABBLING COLONELS, FLEEING

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09ASMARA429.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09ASMARA429 2009-12-15 11:11 2010-12-08 16:04 SECRET Embassy Asmara
INFO  LOG-00   EEB-00   AID-00   AMAD-00  ACQ-00   INL-00   DOTE-00  
      PERC-00  DS-00    FAAE-00  VCI-00   H-00     TEDE-00  INR-00   
      LAB-01   CAC-00   MOFM-00  MOF-00   VCIE-00  DCP-00   NSAE-00  
      ISN-00   OIG-00   NIMA-00  PM-00    GIWI-00  ISNE-00  FMPC-00  
      SP-00    IRM-00   SSO-00   SS-00    SCRS-00  PMB-00   DSCC-00  
      PRM-00   DRL-00   SAS-00   FA-00    SWCI-00  PESU-00  SANA-00  
        /001W
 
P 151119Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0639
INFO AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
NSC WASHDC
CIA WASHDC
DIA WASHDC
JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL
SECDEF WASHDC
CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ
HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
COMUSNAVCENT
Tuesday, 15 December 2009, 11:19
S E C R E T ASMARA 000429 
EO 12958 DECL: 12/10/2019 
TAGS PGOV, MOPS, SOCI, PREF, ER 
SUBJECT: ERITREA’S SQUABBLING COLONELS, FLEEING 
FOOTBALLERS, FRIGHTENED LIBRARIANS
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d)
 1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Things are getting worse and worse in Eritrea. The regime is facing mounting international pressure for years of malign behavior in the neighborhood. Human rights abuses are commonplace and most young Eritreans, along with the professional class, dream of fleeing the country, even to squalid refugee camps in Ethiopia or Sudan. The economy continues to sink; exports for 2008 totaled only $14m and vital hard-currency remittances have fallen to 43% of the 2005 level. “He is sick,” said one leading Eritrean businessman, referring to President Isaias’ mental health. “The worse things get, the more he tries to take direct control--it doesn’t work.” The following three vignettes highlight the current state of affairs in Eritrea. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) THE DEFENSE MINISTER AND THE COLONELS
-------------------------------------------- 
Defense Minister Sebhat Efrem convoked army colonels in late November for a three-day conference on professional and career issues. On the second day a serious row reportedly broke out among the conferees; the acrimony rose so high that General Sebhat cancelled the rest of the conference and sent the quarreling colonels back to their units. The bone of contention? Perceived differences in the quality of the villas (often confiscated from the original owners) given to the colonels by the regime to maintain their allegiance.
3. (SBU) SOCCER TEAM 1 - REGIME 0
---------------------------------- 
Eritreans are mad about soccer. Many dusty streets in Asmara are filled with urchins kicking an old sock stuffed with rags back and forth between goals made of piled stones. Senior government and party officials are avid fans of the British Premier League and sometimes leave official functions early to catch key matches. Despite tight control of the domestic media, satellite TV dishes are allowed, probably so folks can watch international soccer. Impressive numbers of senior regime officials attended the World Cup pool draw reception thrown by the South Africa embassy last week. The BBC and diaspora websites are reporting that the entire Eritrean national soccer team defected after playing in a regional tournament in Kenya. If true, this will be stunning news for the Eritrean population. Only the coach and an escorting colonel reportedly returned to Eritrea. (One wonders why, given their likely fate.) Isaias has previously claimed the CIA was luring Eritrean youth abroad; if the soccer team has in fact defected, he will undoubted try to twist logic in some way to blame the United States.
4. (C) [Content removed]
---------------------------- 
Eritreans are fearful of associating with foreigners, as they are often grilled afterwards by security thugs. XXXXXXXXXXXX
5. (S) COMMENT: The brittle Isaias regime is one pistol shot away from implosion. However, Isaias is clever, very good at operational security, and two decades younger than Mugabe. While many in Eritrea long for change, few are in a position to effect it. END COMMENT.
McMullen