Shooting war in Djibouti

The border battle at the mouth of the Red Sea looks more like Eritrean aggression

Fighting has begun around Ras Doumeira, the area of Djibouti seized by Eritrean troops in April (AC Vol 49 No 11). Both sides had built up their forces, seven kilometres inside Djibouti, and units were in some places less than a stone’s throw apart. Eritrean deserters began slipping across to the Djibouti lines and Eritrean troops pursued them. On the evening of 10 June, after the Djiboutians had refused a demand to return 30 deserters, Eritrean forces attacked and the fighting continued until the next day.

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