Djiboutiplan: Presidential Challenger Warns Djibouti President over Police Brutality

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The spontaneous uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia have spread to Djibouti with thousands of anti-government protestors taking to the streets to call for President Guelleh to step down.

“timely access to the electoral list for both political parties and the general public”

Buoyed by the success of demonstrations across the region, increasing numbers of protestors have been gathering in the East African country to urge the President not to seek a third five-year term in office, at the presidential elections in April, according to Djiboutiplan.
Further unrest is expected this week as the country prepares for two days of mass protests on February 18 and February 25.
However, opposition groups fear that the peaceful demonstrations could be met with police brutality, following clashes last week that saw the country’s security forces use tear gas and stones to disperse the crowds.
Fears for the safety of political activists are also growing following Friday’s arrest of Jean-Paul Noël-Abdi, President of the LDDH ( la Ligue Djiboutienne des Droits Humains), Djibouti’s leading human rights group. Farah Abadid Hildid, a member of the MRD (Mouvement pour le Renouveau démocratique et le Développement), who has been leading calls for President Guelleh’s resignation, has also been arrested.
Abdourahman Boreh, the leading Presidential challenger and former Chairman of Djibouti’s Ports and Free Zones Authority, warned the President today of the consequences of using brutality to stay in power.
He said “The international community is watching and must take action against Mr Guelleh if this illegal oppression continues. Public anger at the brutality of President Guelleh’s police state may lead to civil unrest with devastating consequences for the citizens, the refugees and the economy. In the interests of the Djibouti nation, Mr Guelleh must accept the will of the people, and the true terms of the constitution, and step down to allow a credible democratic process to take place.”
He added: “The unfolding events in Djibouti are of great concern to countries in the region too, due to its strategic role in guarding the narrow Red Sea straights that lead to the Suez Canal, and the importance of Djibouti’s ports as Ethiopia’s only secure access to the sea in an unstable region.” Read More