Daniel M. Austin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa
DJIBOUTI, Djibouti -On Friday, the feelings of outrage and violence that have swept through parts of Africa and the Middle East came to the small African nation of Djibouti. Thousands of Djiboutians took to the streets calling for the ouster of the country’s President Ismael Omar Guelleh. Responding to the protests, security forces loyal to President Guelleh clashed with demonstrators, the ensuing violence left several people dead. Along with those killed, dozens of protesters were injured and at least three key opposition leaders were arrested. The small east African nation is a critical ally to both France and the United States.
As of Saturday evening, resident of the capital reported a heavy police presence patrolling the streets trying to restore calm. Although demonstrations continued on Saturday, the protests were less intense that what occurred on Friday. Protesters claim that on both Friday and Saturday, thousands of people took to the streets to protest President Guelleh rule and his attempt to run for a third presidential term. President Guelleh has been in power since 1999. In 2010, he oversaw a change to the country’s constitution allowing him to run for a third term in April 2011.
According to the Interior Minister Yacin Elmi Bouh, one police officer was killed in the fighting and a single protester was killed when he was hit by a speeding police vehicle during Friday’s protest. In contrast to the official government report, protesters claim at least four people were killed and more than 50 were injured during Friday’s march.
According to Djibouti’s chief prosecutor three main opposition leaders have been detained following a protest march. Djama Souleiman, the chief prosecutor claims that Mohamed Daoud Chehem, head of the Djibouti Party for Development; Ismael Guedi Hared, president of the Union for a Democratic Alternative; and Aden Robleh Awaleh, leader of the National Democratic Party, are a threat to democracy in Djibouti and have been taken into police custody.
Djibouti, a former French colony, contains a large French military base housing over 3,000 soldiers as well as a strategically important American Army base. The Army base is the only American military base located in Sub-Saharan Africa. This base is critical infrastructure that the United States military uses for launching attacks throughout Africa and continues to be an important piece of the U.S. strategy to combat terrorism.
For more information, please see:
BBC — Djibouti: Ismael Omar Guelleh faces huge protest march—18 February 2011
Reuters – Protests hit Djibouti, opposition leaders held – 19 February 2011
Voice of America — Djibouti Opposition Leaders Detained – 19 February 2011
