Several injured during protests in Tadjourah

DefendDefenders, CIVICUS and the International Federation for Human Rights released a joint UPR stakeholder submission on 12th October ahead of Djibouti's May 2018 UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The joint submission outlines the continued unwillingness of authorities in Djibouti to address major human rights violations, such as the relentless targeting of human rights defenders, the limitations on and violations of civil and political rights, including continued intolerance towards critical and dissent voices. 

Peaceful Assembly

On 27th October, protests erupted in Tadjourah, northern Djibouti, where a port is to be built. Local rights groups reported to CIVICUS Monitor research partner that several protesters were seriously injured during demonstrations as they demanded jobs with the construction of the port. According to a press statement from local rights group - Ligue djiboutienne des droits de l’homme - the protests erupted because the list of candidates for jobs to build the port did not include local young people from Tadjourah. The statement also asserts that police used live ammunition and tear gas against protesters. One group on the ground alleged that several demonstrators were injured, including a ten year-old boy.

Association

On 2nd August 2017, opposition figure Mohamed Ahmed, known as Jabha, died in detention after spending seven years in Gabode central prison in very bad health. He was arrested in 2010 and accused of being an Eritrean agent but only went to trial in June 2017, during which he was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He has become a symbol of cases of arbitrary detentions in the country.