![[AIM] Asmarino Independent Media](/images/logo/ailogo.png){kind=logo}
Eritrean Naval Officers Defect to Yemen.
32 members of the Eritrean Navy escaped on speed boats from the Eritrean Port of Massawa arriving at Hudayda in Yemen at 19:00 hours, April 3, 2009.
The officers took their weapons and communication equipment with them.
This is about the 5th time that naval officers have fled the country in groups. This latest incident constitutes the highest number of officers defecting.
22 of the officers held different senior positions. They include 1 major, 4 captains, 2 lieutenants, 5 junior lieutenants, 6 sergeants, and four corporals. The remaining 10 are privates.
The highest ranking officer of the group is identified as Major Yossief Seyoum (Wedi Seyoum). We have not received the names of the other officers.
