US embassy cable - 05DJIBOUTI562

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000562 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF AND PM 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, MARR, PGOV, ET, DJ 
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIAN HELICOPTER CREW ASYLUM REQUEST IN 
DJIBOUTI 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MARGUERITA RAGSDALE. 
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
1. (C) During Ambassador and USLO's 6/9 regular weekly 
meeting with Commander of French Forces General Michel 
Arrault, Arrault told Ambassador that he had just received 
word that an Ethiopian Mi-24 military helicopter with three 
Ethiopian military personnel had landed earlier that morning 
in Djibouti.  The three were reportedly seeking asylum. 
 
2.  (C) Post subsequently learned that the three individuals, 
ostensibly a pilot, co-pilot and helicopter mechanic, had 
landed the aircraft in Djibouti and that there was a claim 
for asylum based on the political situation currently 
underway in Ethiopia.  According to Djibouti's Chief of 
National Security, Hassan Said, the pilot was believed to 
have "hijacked" the helicopter on his own accord and that the 
two individuals who accompanied had done so unwillingly. 
Post also was told by Hassan Said, that following discussions 
with President Guelleh, it was decided that asylum would be 
denied and that the three individuals and the helicopter 
would be returned to the Ethiopian government. 
 
3. (C) Post will seek further details and clarification. 
RAGSDALE