• Text size  | | |
• Email this document
• Printable version

Djibouti: Types of problems that members of the Party of Democratic Renewal-PRD (Parti du renouveau démocratique, PRD) are having with the authorities and category of members affected (1999)

Current information on problems facing members of the Party of Democratic Renewal (PRD) could not be found among the independent sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

 In his 17 January 1999 letter, the president of the legal faction of Party of Democratic Renewal-PRD provided the following information.

[Unofficial translation] "The régime now in Djibouti, is using socio-economic exclusion as weapon to prevent people to join the PRD. Managerial staffs, who are suspected to be with the PRD are systematically fired. As Djibouti is a small country, the private sector is also under control of the government and it seems to be difficult for a political opponent to run freely his own business" (17 Jan. 1999).

The president of the non-legal faction of the PRD provided in his 21 January 1999 letter faxed to the Research Directorate, the following information.

Referring to his election as PRD president in July 1997, [unofficial translation] "the security forces accentuated their repression, harassment and arrests and arbitrary detentions against the members of PRD and the interception of telephone communications. The administration sanctioned and fired some PRD members like Mohamed FARAH Moussa, who lost his position as director of the Department of Information because of his link with the PRD President". The letter adds that, "of course, these actions are more against leaders and active members and their immediate entourage because of the contribution to the PRD.

Copies of  the letters are attached. The presidents of the two PRD factions accused each other of playing the game of the current government (Ahmed Farah 21 Jan. 1999; Hamareiteh 29 Dec. 1998).

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

Abdillah Hamareiteh, président du Parti du renouveau démocratique (PRD). 17 January 1999. Letter faxed to Research Directorate.

_____. 29 December 1998. Telephone interview.

Daher Ahmed Farah. 22 January 1999. Telephone interview.

_____.  21 January 1999. Letter faxed to Research Directorate.

Attachments

Abdillah Hamareiteh, président du Parti du renouveau démocratique (PRD). 17 January 1999. Letter faxed to Research Directorate.

Daher Ahmed Farah. 21 January 1999. Letter faxed to Research Directorate.

Additional Sources Consulted

Electronic sources. Internet, (LEXIS/NEXIS), World News Connection (WNC).

One oral source consulted did not provide any information on the above-mentioned subject.

Topics: Persecution based on political opinion,