#Djibouti #Afar Sultanate #Djibouti Strike #Ahmed Alimirah #Afar

Sultan of Afar Calls for Justice After Drone Attack

On January 30, 2025, the tranquility of a remote village on the Djibouti-Ethiopia border was shattered by a devastating drone strike that claimed the lives of eleven innocent civilians, including women and children. The sultanate of Afar, led by Sultan Ahmed Alimirah, has publicly condemned this brutal act, attributing it to the Republic of Djibouti's security forces.

In his official statement, Sultan Alimirah described the victims as unarmed civilians who were mere inhabitants of a village already grappling with severe hardships, including a lack of access to clean drinking water, healthcare, education, and sustainable resources. During a tense four-hour period, the drone attack targeted those who were already struggling to survive, prompting outrage from the Sultanate of Afar.

"The victims of this merciless attack were not combatants but rather vulnerable individuals—women, children, and the elderly—who found themselves in the crosshairs of a military operation allegedly aimed at rooting out terrorism," he stated. Djibouti's government, however, defended the strike by claiming it was aimed at suspected militants in the area.

The Sultanate of Afar's response highlights a long history of systemic persecution and violence against the Afar community by the Djibouti government. Sultan Alimirah’s statement reflects a poignant frustration, declaring, "For decades we have endured systematic persecution, state-sponsored violence, and deliberate neglect at the hands of the Djibouti government."

He further accused Djibouti’s security forces of using peaceful Afar civilians for target practice, stating that they were testing lethal military capabilities on an already marginalized group. The eleven victims were identified as:

• - Gamma Ali Orbiss
• - Kako Ali Orbiss
• - Mohamed Aydahis
• - Ali Mohamed Kako
• - Aisha Badul Ali
• - Mohamed Houmed Ali
• - Daoud Louback Hamadou
• - Gohar Ali Omar
• - Three children aged between 10 and 13

In addition to the deceased, several others sustained injuries, including:

• - Maryam Mohammed Abdallah
• - Fatuma Camad Casasn
• - Qali Mohammed Qali
• - Qabdalla Qali Qabdalla
• - Faarac Kadir Mohammed

The Sultanate has gathered evidence of the attack, including graphic imagery depicting the tragic aftermath. Sultan Alimirah has expressed readiness to share this evidence with human rights organizations, investigative bodies, and international legal authorities, aiming to ensure that accountability is pursued.

He called on the global community to investigate this crime thoroughly, visit the impacted regions, and take actionable steps to prevent further atrocities against the impoverished Afar population. The Sultan is advocating for heightened awareness about the realities faced by the Afar, urging international human rights organizations to intervene.

This incident adds to the escalating concerns regarding the treatment of the Afar people and raises significant questions about the appropriate measures being taken in conflict zones. As the situation continues to unfold, the Sultanate of Afar remains steadfast in its pursuit of justice for the victims and accountability for the aggressors.