Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2014 21:15:35 +0100
The overthrow of Blaise Compaoré sparks protests against Djibouti's leader
<http://www.pri.org/programs/global-voices-online> Global Voices Online
By <http://www.pri.org/people/lova-rakotomalala> Lova Rakotomalala
November 05, 2014 · 2:15 PM EST
Watch this Videoi link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxLVHT5DaAU#t=19
A
<http://www.20minutes.fr/monde/1472567-20141101-burkina-faso-o-situation-24h
-apres-chute-blaise-compoare> few days after protesters in Burkina Faso
<http://globalvoicesonline.org/2014/10/28/people-in-burkina-faso-are-taking-
to-the-streets-against-a-president-for-life/> forced President Blaise
Compaoré from office, youth in another African country are using the example
to push for the resignation of another long-standing ruler.
Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, Djibouti's strongman leader, has run the former French
colony in East Africa since 1999 — when his uncle stepped down after 22
years in power. Guellah last renewed his mandate in 2011 after winning
passage of a consititutional change that let him run for a third term, the
same tactic that prompted the anti-Compaoré protests in Burkina Faso.
That decision sparked major protests in the run-up to the 2011 election, and
Djibouti's youth have now reignited that movement. The Opposition Youth
Movement — also know as the MJO, its French acronym — also marched through
the streets of Djibouti City on Monday to demand transparent democratic
elections.
Djiboutian blogger Houssein Ibrahim Houmed also wrote about the links
between
<http://houssein.ibrahim.houmed.over-blog.com/article-formons-une-immense-ch
aine-de-solidarite-autour-du-peuple-burkinabe-par-houssein-ibrahim-houmed-12
4893436.html> the events in Burkina Faso and his country:
As seen from Djibouti, I can say with certainty that the members and
supporters of Uguta-Toosa (Djibouti) political party support the just
struggle of the people of Burkina Faso. I invite the coalition USN (National
Union for Salvation) of the Djiboutian opposition to express their
unwavering solidarity with the resistance waged against the dictatorship
Burkinabe Blaise Compaoré.
Protesters captured video of Monday's demonstrations in the capital:
Guelleh's regime is well known for its disregard for democracy. Freedom
House, a human rights watchdog organizations, says that while Djibouti holds
elections, "the ruling UMP coalition party has
<http://www.freedomhouse.org/about-us#.VFpWe-Zg46I> effectively usurped the
state."
The government also banned all demonstrations and arrested peaceful
protesters and opposition leaders ahead of the 2011 presidential vote,
according to
<http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/04/04/djibouti-allow-peaceful-protests>
Human Rights Watch.
The struggle for more democracy in Djibouti also faces challenges from
overseas. The emphasis on fighting terrorism in the region has enabled the
rulers of Djibouti, as well as Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia, to generously
benefit from US aid without much of the usual democratic requirements.
And the potential for economic growth in the region has also let Guelleh
solidify his position in the international community. Malik Ibrahim, an
expert on the Horn of Africa region, explained how Guelleh uses his
international network to
<http://www.eurasiareview.com/22102014-djibouti-tells-us-africas-troubled-ro
ad-prosperity-analysis/> strengthen his leadership:
Americans, French, Germans, Chinese, Russians and even the Japanese have
been vying for influence within the country’s government. As a result,
Djibouti’s main source of income comes from the rents it charges its Western
partners for the military facilities it hosts. While the exact sums are
unclear, the U.S. pays
<http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2014/05/us-secures-10-year-deal-djib
outi-base-20145655315274469.html> some $60 million a year, while the French
and the Japanese both contribute some $30 million. Most recently, the
Djiboutian government signed a
<http://www.aafonline.co.za/news/djibouti-china-planning-military-base-incre
ased-co-operation> security and strategic defense partnership with China.
Djibouti is offering China military facilities in exchange for training of
their military forces
However, things can change quickly as the Burkina Faso events have shown.
Blogger Houssein Ibrahim Houmed, again, offered his hopes for the country:
The end of the Guelleh regime will be effective and consumed only when the
rule of law is firmly established in the Republic of Djibouti. I hope that
the United States of America, Japan and France will favor the advent of
democracy here and that they will not condone an extension of the reign of
this heinous clan.
This
<http://globalvoicesonline.org/2014/11/04/djiboutis-young-people-look-to-bur
kina-faso-to-pave-their-own-democratic-way/> story by Lova Rakotomalala was
originally published by our partner <http://globalvoicesonline.org/> Global
Voices Online, a community of bloggers from around the world.
http://www.pri.org/sites/default/files/styles/story_main/public/story/images
/RTR3NUQA.jpg?itok=gys1a5GC
· U.S. President Barack Obama meets with President Ismaïl Omar
Guelleh of Djibouti on May 5, 2014. Some Djiboutians say American ties to
their country are holding back democratization.
Credit:
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
(image/jpeg attachment: image003.jpg)