Skirmish in Afar region

Afar Regional State 

By T, De Birhan Media Staffer 


17-1-12

A skirmish between unidentified insurgents and the Ethiopian Defence Forces  in

the Afar Region of Ethiopia bordering Eritrea has taken the life tourists who were

visiting the region. 

The skirmish happened last night (16 January 2012) in Ertalee, Denakil Depression . 

Five tourists have been killed while two were seriously wounded

and one was unhurt. The number of soldiers killed in the fight is not known yet.

According to the German based media, bild.de a German and an Austrian were 
killed while one other German was kidnapped. It also reported that the 25 member
 team of the tourists included Germans,Austrians,Italy, USA, Australia and two 
Ethiopian nationals. Two were kidnapped while 18 were safe unharmed. 
The Ethiopian government alleged that the

gunmen were trained and sent from Eritrea. According to Reuters,Girma Asmerom, Eritrea's envoy to the African Union denied the charges and said "It has become a trend for Ethiopia to fabricate sensational news against Eritrea whenever the summit is nearing,".

The tourists were visiting Erta Ale in the Danakil desert, which extends to the north-east of Ethiopia and is one of the hottest  regions of the world. Bild Daily recalled that in 2007, five Europeans - four Britons and a French citizen - were taken hostage and released unharmed, in exchange for a ransom.

Update 17-1-2012

Later today, the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a press release to the media stressing that it may take action on Eritrea unless the international community intervenes. 

Here is the whole Press Release :

Press statement on Eritrean-backed tourist killings in the Afar Regional State : MOFA

On Monday, 16 January 2012, a group of 27 tourists travelling in the Afar Regional State were attacked by gunmen. It was an act of open terrorism resulting in the death of five people with others injured and kidnapped. Those killed were two Germans, two 

Hungarians and an Austrian. The injured included one Hungarian, one Belgian and one British. Two Germans and two Ethiopians were also kidnapped. 

The Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia would like to express its deep condolences to the families of those killed in this cruel attack.  The Government will do everything possible to have those taken prisoner released as soon as possible.  It is already clear that the attack was carried out with the direct involvement of the Eritrean Government. There is concern that the people who have been kidnapped might have been taken across the border into Eritrea. On previous occasions, when tourists 

have been kidnapped,  the Eritrean government  had  tried to use the prisoners as a bargaining chip in its diplomatic activities. 

Monday’s incident is yet another indication of how determined the regime in Asmara is to continue its destabilizing activities in the region. Indeed, this is an indication of the failure of the international community to rein in the regime.  The Government of Ethiopia believes that this  terrorist  act is intended to coincide with the upcoming African Union Summit being held in Addis Ababa at the end of the month.  It might be recalled that it was almost exactly a year ago that a major bombing plot was foiled in 

Addis Ababa, intended to disrupt the African Union Summit last January. 

It is an open secret that the regime in Asmara focuses its ‘diplomatic’ efforts on trying to intimidate and terrorize the international community rather than operate through 

normal diplomatic  norms. It is also becoming obvious that the international community's failure to take serious action against the regime is effectively reinforcing Eritrea's  recalcitrant behaviour.

The Government of Ethiopia is of the view that, the time is overdue for the international community to become serious about the destabilizing role of the Eritrean regime in the region.  This latest cowardly attack against innocent tourists clearly shows Asmara’s 

contempt for the notion of international law and customs.  

The Ethiopian Government's tolerance towards a regime that openly supports terrorist activity is inevitably wearing thinner by the day. The Government cannot and should not sit idly by while the regime in Asmara continues to sponsor acts of terror within 

Ethiopia's territory with impunity.  It will be obliged to take whatever action is necessary to stop the activities of the Eritrean regime once and for all unless the international community assumes its responsibilities  and takes the necessary steps to bring this abominable behavior to an end.  The Ethiopian Government believes that it is still not too late for international action. At the same time, the Government would like to reiterate that the international community  has never been the last line of defense 

against Eritrea’s destabilizing activities.  It should be made clear that Ethiopia has the right to defend itself and it will do so if necessary. 

                                                                       17 January 2012