Eritrean, Djiboutian troops exchange fire at border
Media: AFP
Byline: N/A
Date: 10 June 2008
DJIBOUTI, June 10, 2008 (AFP) - Djiboutian and Eritrean troops exchanged
fire Tuesday for the first time since a tense standoff started at their
border two months ago, a military source and a government official told
AFP.
The clashes took place in the Ras Doumeira area at Djibouti's northern
border, where Eritrean troops carried out an incursion on April 16 that
sparked a military standoff between the two neighbours.
"Everything started when Eritrean soldiers opened fire today on around
20 Eritrean deserters who wanted to cross the border," a Djiboutian
military official on the ground told AFP on condition of anonymity.
"Naturally, the Djiboutian military retaliated and this is how the
hostilities started," he added.
Everyone on board Camp is safe and we are at a heightened state you could say. The French are out in arms providing the support they promise to the Djiboutian people by being here. 3 Djiboutians died another 30 were injured and about 80 Eritreans died from what I heard.
The Djiboutian/Eritrean border is much like the Gaza Strip, both countries claim a certain section of land as part of their country and thus they have conflict with one another every few years in an on again off again rotation.
4 comments:
Well, this isn't exactly what everyone here state side wants to have knowledge of. SCARY.....
That's what I'm thinking, too, Carroll... He requested that I stay away from news of Africa but is very good to keep me in the loop of what's happening. Both a blessing and a curse, I imagine.
Glad to know all of you are OK, anyhow.
Eritirians don't have enough fuel to get to Lemonier....
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