Djibouti: Update to DJI31018.E of 1 February 1999 on political opposition parties and, specifically, on the current leadership of the faction of the Party for Democratic Renewal (PRD) with legal status (the legally recognized faction)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 April 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | DJI31600.FE |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Djibouti: Update to DJI31018.E of 1 February 1999 on political opposition parties and, specifically, on the current leadership of the faction of the Party for Democratic Renewal (PRD) with legal status (the legally recognized faction), 1 April 1999, DJI31600.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abce5c.html [accessed 29 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In the presidential elections scheduled for 9 April 1999 (ION 6 Mar. 1999, 7), the opposition parties, under the banner of the Opposition djiboutienne unie (Djibouti United Opposition), are going to field a single candidate in the person of Moussa Ahmed Idriss (ibid. 13 Mar. 1999, 6). The Djibouti United Opposition's sole candidate was elected as a member of the Rassemblement populaire pour le progrès (Popular Rally for Progress (RPP)), which was in power in Djibouti at the time of the last legislative elections (ibid. 6 Mar. 1999, 7).
The chairmen of two unofficial factions of the Parti de renouveau démocratique (Party for Democratic Renewal (PRD-Farah and PRD-Hamareiteh)), and the chairman of the armed faction of the Front pour la restauration de l'unité et de la démocratie (Front for the Restitution of Unity and Democracy (FRUD-Dini)), corroborated the ION information that Moussa Ahmed Idriss was the presidential candidate, during telephone interviews held respectively on 26, 29 and 31 March 1999.
With regard to the current PRD leadership, the chairmen of the two unofficial PRD factions supplied the following information during the telephone interviews.In January 1999, dissension arose within the leadership team of the PRD faction that, up to then, had been officially recognized by the authorities and was led by Abdillahi Hamareiteh Guelleh [Hamareyte Guelle]. Two groups were produced by this split: one is led by Abdillahi Hamareiteh Guelleh and the other by Maki Houmed Gaba, the former vice-chairman of the faction. The latter group is the one that currently enjoys legal status with the Djibouti authorities.
The letters exchanged between the Djibouti Minister of the Interior and of Decentralization and Abdillahi Hamareiteh Guelleh, copies of which are attached, show that the latter is no longer recognized as the representative of the official faction. However, a news release from the office of Moussa Ahmed Idriss, the candidate for the Djibouti United Opposition and a letter from him to the Minister of the Interior and of Decentralization state that Abdillahi Hamareiteh Guelleh and Daher Ahmed Farah, both chairmen of unofficial PRD factions, are part of his electoral organization. The two chairmen affirmed their support for the Djibouti United Opposition candidate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Djibouti. Minister of the Interior and of Decentralization. 27 January 1998. Letter addressed to Abdillahi Hamareyte Guelle, a copy of which was obtained by the Research Directorate.
Chairman, Front pour la restauration de l'unité et de la démocratie (FRUD-Dini). 31 March 1999. Telephone interview.
Chairman, Parti de renouveau démocratique - Farah (PRD-Farah). 26 March 1999. Telephone interview.
Chairman, Parti de renouveau démocratique - Hamareiteh (PRD-Hamareiteh). 29 March 1999. Telephone interview.
The Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris]. 13 March 1999. No. 849. "Djibouti: Opposition Viewpoint."
_____. 6 March 1999. No. 848. "Djibouti: Fighting Before the Ballot."
Moussa Ahmed Idriss. 16 March 1999. Letter to the Minister of the Interior and of Decentralization, a copy of which was obtained by the Research Directorate.
Opposition djiboutienne unie. 28 March 1999. Spokesperson's news release No. 9/ODU/28/01/1999, a copy of which was obtained by the Research Directorate.
Parti de renouveau démocratique - Hamareiteh (PRD-Hamareiteh). 27 January 1999. Letter from the Chairman to the Minister of the Interior and of Decentralization, a copy of which was obtained by the Research Directorate.
Attachments
Djibouti. Minister of the Interior and of Decentralization. 27 January 1998. Copy of a letter addressed to Abdillahi Hamareyte Guelle.
Moussa Ahmed Idriss. 16 March 1999. Letter to the Minister of the Interior and of Decentralization.
Opposition djiboutienne unie. 28 March 1999. Spokesperson's news release No. 9/ODU/28/01/1999.
Chairman, Parti de renouveau démocratique - Hamareiteh (PRD-Hamareiteh). 27 January 1999. Copy of the letter from the Chairman to the Minister of the Interior and of Decentralization. .
