IGAD condemns attack on Djiboutian soldiers

NAIROBI, Kenya - The Intergovernmental Authority on Development [IGAD] has condemned vicious attacks on the Djiboutian army, terming the incident as "criminal and cowardly" while calling for immediate apprehension of those who participated in the "outrageous" act.

IGAD Executive Director Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu said the attack was uncalled for while expressing his heartfelt condolences to the families affected in an attack perpetrated by a militia on Tadjourah Regiment of Djibouti army within Garabistan.

Djibouti’s Ministry of Defense said seven soldiers were killed in the armed attack on Saturday 06 October, which also injured four soldiers; six others are reported missing.

In a statement, the Defense Ministry blamed the Armed FRUD, a splinter rebel group of the Front for the Restoration and Democracy, which claims to fight for the interests of the Afar people. The Afar people live in both Ethiopia and Djibouti within the Horn of Africa.

According to Djiboutian media, the ministry accuses the group of conducting “odious and criminal acts of terrorizing and looting people from remote areas of the country.” Reinforcements were sent out, it said, and “the pursuit is underway.”

Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, President of Djibouti, on his part vowed that “all these miscreants will be prosecuted, arrested and brought to justice.”

“Djibouti is an oasis of peace and plays an important role in promoting peaceful coexistence in the region,” Workneh said. “Those who committed this criminal act should be made to face justice.”

Djibouti is one of the most stable countries within the Horn of Africa and is the host of the US Africa Command military team. There is also a huge presence of the French army in the country but the attack caught intelligence teams unaware, triggering tough security checks.

GAROWE ONLINE