Qatar withdraws all its troops from Eritrea-Djibouti border

Horn of Africa perspective

Tigrai Online, June 14, 2017

Qatar said today it has fully withdrawn its troops from the border of Eritrea and Djibouti.

The tiny country of Qatar said it has withdrawn all of its troops from the border of Eritrea and Djibouti today. In a

Qatar sent about 450 troops in 2010 to separate Eritrea and Djibouti troops after the Eritrean government invaded Djibouti in 2008 and the two countries went to war over disputed border. The Qatari troops were stationed in a small mountain pass on the border of both countries.

The Qatar government issued a statement today stating the full withdrawal of its troops from the border of Eritrea and Djibouti saying "The state of Qatar informed the government of Djibouti that it has withdrawn all its troops deployed on the border line in Djiboutian territories."

Qatar is in a big diplomatic crisis because it is being accused supporting terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.  Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic ties with Qatar last week and many other countries are distancing themselves.

The Eritrean government broke diplomatic ties yesterday just after it said it will stand bedside “Brother Doha” a couple of days ago. In a short written statement the Eritrean Ministry of Information said, “The decision that Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have taken is not confined to Qatar alone – as the potential of Qatar is very limited. It is one initiative among many in the right direction that envisages full realization of regional security and stability. As such, it is not a matter that requires invitation of the Eritrean Government or solicitation of its vote. For the GOE, this is a timely issue that warrants its active support.”

Eritrea was very close to Qatar so much so the Qatari emir gave a presidential airplane to Eritrean president. Qatar also was financing Eritrea to destabilize Ethiopia at one point Ethiopia cut off all diplomatic relationship with the tiny country.

Why the big Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic ties with Qatar is not that clear so far, but it has something to do with its close relationship with Iran.

Ethiopian government didn’t officially say anything about the issue so far. How does this affect Ethiopia? The only thing we would say about it is, the further the Arab troops go away from our door steps the merrier for Ethiopians. The Arc of the Covenant (Mariam Tsion) is watching after Ethiopia.