Red Sea Afar rebels attack Eritrean military camp

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

January 26, 2009 (MEKELLE, Tigray) –The Eritrean rebel The Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization (RSADO) on Monday claimed killing at least 20 government soldiers in a night raid it carried out during the weekend at a military camp in the northern region of Denkalya.

“Our fighters late on Saturday launched an attack on a military camp of the 12 sub division 3rd brigade of the Eritrean army sited at Geraelo zone of Asbol specific area, leaving 20 Eritrean soldiers killed and 30 others wounded.” RSADO’s Executive committee member and head of information and propaganda, Yasin Mohamed told Sudan Tribune by phone.

The rebel official further said the assailant rebels destroyed completely the military camp and burnt down a weapons cache inside the camp too. He added the Afar fighters used heavy weapons at first and bombs before to completely bring down the camp.

This is a third attack the movement is stating in less than three months time. In earlier this month the RSADO alleged killing and wounding 65 government troops. In mid-November, 2008 the group claimed killing over 250 government troops in an attack carried out fifty km deep in Eritrean territory, in a town called Afambo at a military training center.

The latest attack is seen to be a big blow to Asmara, where it’s only legal party the people’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) doesn’t recognize the existence of other political forces.

“Unless the rights and self determination of the Afar people in particular and the Eritrean people in general are assured the attacks will never stop.” Yasin stressed. He also called on the Eritrean opposition forces to reunite its effort to topple the Eritrean government.

According to the movement’s representative, “the latest attacks are in retaliation to the regime’s brutal killings, tortures and mass arrests over the innocent Afar citizens.”

Eritrea and Ethiopia accuse each other of supporting their respective rebel and opposition groups. Addis Ababa describes Ogaden and Oromo rebels as anti peace agents supports by Eritrea, While Asmara presents the Afar and other members of the opposition Eritrean National Alliance (ENA) as trouble makers employed by Addis Ababa in its proxy war against Eritrea.

The Afar, estimated at 1,500000 people, are disseminated in Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia. They have three rebel groups in Djibouti (FRUD) Eritrea RSADO and Ethiopia (Afar Liberation Front). They fight for their minority rights and the self determination.

(ST)