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 Network
of Eritreans for Constitutional
Governance
(NECG)
Eritrea
Troops Presence In Djibouti Exposed
23
June 2008
Barely
over a week after border issues between Djibouti and Eritrea mutated
into an open bloody exchange of fire, the Foreign Minister of
Djibouti, Mahmoud Ali Youssef, presented to
Al Jazeera TV 20 June 2008, documents, pictures and maps that have
been submitted to the UN, showing trenches dug by Eritrean troops on
Djibouti's territory.
Djibouti
has produced documents showing Eritrean troops on Djiboutian land
Djibouti
has accused neighbouring Eritrea of illegally intruding into its
territory.
Mahmoud Ali Youssef,
the Djiboutian foreign minister, told Al Jazeera on Friday that
Eritrean troops crossed the border on the Bab Al Mandeb Strait and
took control of Djiboutian land.
Youssef said:
"Eritrean troops entered Djiboutian territory and took more
land.
"Right now,
Eritrean troops are stationed inside Djiboutian territories."
The Bab Al Mandeb
Strait south of the Red Sea is a key navigation route and the subject
of a border dispute between the two countries.
Youssef continued:
"The UN Security Council has asked for both countries to
withdraw their troops from this area.
"The Djiboutian
government has withdrawn its forces up to 5km inside the Djiboutian
land. But Eritrean forces have advanced."
The Bab Al Mandab
Strait is a strategic passage separating the Arabian Peninsula from
East Africa. It is a key trade and oil route linking Europe to the
east.
Eritrea denies its
troops have crossed the border.
'Documented
evidence'
But Youssef showed
Al Jazeera documents, pictures and maps that have been submitted to
the UN.
According
to him, these show the trenches dug by Eritrean troops on Djiboutian
land.
Last week troops of
the two countries clashed.
Some analysts think
Eritrea has already claimed the Bab Al Mandab Strait.
Mahmoud Taha Towkal,
a political analyst, said: "There is a new reality. Under recent
developments, the Bab Al Mandeb Strait is no longer under the control
of Djibouti and Yemen.
"It is now
controlled by three countries: Djibouti, Eritrea and Yemen. It is no
longer under the control of the Arab countries."
Both the US and
France have military bases in Djibouti. France also has a mutual
defence accord with its former colony and supplies it with
intelligence.
Observers say this
may deter a widespread conflict. Source: Al Jazeera
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