Djibouti: The UDD (part of the FUOD); founding members; current executive members; secretary-general or president during the 1992-1995 period; reference to a member named Ismael Youssouf
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 2 July 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | DJI39399.E |
| Reference | 7 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Djibouti: The UDD (part of the FUOD); founding members; current executive members; secretary-general or president during the 1992-1995 period; reference to a member named Ismael Youssouf, 2 July 2002, DJI39399.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be2ac.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. |
According to the Indian Ocean Newsletter, the "Union des démocrates djiboutiens" (UDD), associated with the Gadaboursi clan, backed a massive boycott of the presidential elections in 1993 (1 May 1993). At that time, the party disowned Mohamed Moussa Ainache, who had in the past acted as an "occasional representative" of the UDD (ibid.).
In July 1995, an article in the Indian Ocean Newsletter states the following:
The national council of Union des Démocrates Djiboutiens elected a new chairman on July 17, choosing former secretary general Mahdi Ibrahim Ahmed to replace acting chairman Abdulkader Djama Rayalleh. UDD is one component of Front Uni de l'Opposition Djiboutienne headed by Mohamed Ahmed Issa (aka Cheiko) and close to the anti-government movement Front pour la Restauration de l'Unité et de la Démocratie headed by Ahmed Dini (22 July 1995).
The article further states that Mahdi Ibrahim was a founding member of the UDD in 1992 and was one of four FUOD members jailed in 1994 by the authorities (ibid.).
No information on a UDD member named Ismael Youssouf could be found among sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, an Indian Ocean Newsletter article from April 1997 mentions that the Front pour la Restauration de l'Unité et de la Démocratie enlarged its membership beyond the Afar people in 1997, and elected a Gadabursi named Ismael Youssouf as one of its vice-presidents (19 Apr. 1997).
No recent information on the UDD could be found among sources consulted by the Research Directorate within time constraints.
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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Indian Ocean Newsletter. 19 April 1997. "First FRUD Congress Held."
_____. 22 July 1995. "Mahdi Ibrahim Ahmed."
_____. 1 May 1993. "Notes: Djibouti."
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential
Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Issues
The Indian Ocean Newsletter
Keesing's Record of World Events
Internet sites including:
Africa Intelligence
Amnesty International
The Daily Nation
The East African Standard
Human Rights Watch
United Nations Development Programme
U.S. Department of State
Search engines including:
