In Djibouti, since 2017 Daher Ahmed Farah (DAF), a staunch opponent of the government has been under an abusive arrest warrant, issued days after he returned to Belgium by the current regime. This, under the ridiculous charge of « re-enactment of a dissolved party ». Indeed, dissolved by the Djiboutian government in 2009, the opponent had resurrected the Party Movement for Democratic Renewal and Development (MRD) which he chairs. Having found that these rights had been violated, he referred the matter to the UN Human Rights Committee.

In 2017, the UN Human Rights Committee issued a report on the case of Daher Ahmed Farah. He felt that Djibouti had violated his rights. A decision that delights the opponent

Daher Ahmed Farah and the MRD satisfied

For the UN body, the dissolution of the party was an interference with freedom of association. They believe that Daher Ahmed Farah’s freedoms have been violated several times as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, of which Djibouti is a signatory.

The committee also demanded the rehabilitation of the MRD, that the opponent be able to return home, continue his political activity freely and be compensated. Djibouti has 180 days to explain the state of the implementation of this decision.

According to RFI’s colleagues, DAF said he was « satisfied » after the report « with an international dimension ». Under house arrest more than twenty times and arrested six times according to his entourage, the opponent has lost none of his commitment. « As long as nothing changes in Djibouti, I will continue, » he said. For him, the ideal would be « to get home quickly and run for president in April. »

A relief according to his lawyer

Although his lawyer spoke of relief, he expressed doubts about the regime’s willingness to respect that decision. « A relief after a long procedure. » This was described by his lawyer Zacharia Abdillahi, who said that « the conclusions are necessary in Djibouti ». However, he remains uncertain as to the effective implementation of the decision by the Djiboutian authorities.

« The government is relentless because it is afraid of its political influence, » says Abdillahi.
According to Daoud Houmed, spokesman for the majority, Djibouti has no intention of implementing these conclusions. « Djibouti is a sovereign state, its justice is independent. No one will impose anything on us, » he says. In his case, the rights of the MDR leader were respected and he exhausted all avenues of appeal.

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