Djibouti
Wednesday 10.2.2021 Djibouti - Latest Developments -
La Voix de Djibouti recognised for their journalism, but attacked by President Guelleh
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) nominates La Voix de Djibouti (Voice of Djibouti), the last remaining Djiboutian independent news source, for their annual Press Freedom Award, the ‘Prize of Courage’; President Guelleh makes inflammatory and inaccurate comments about the media outlet Read more | Read in French

Monday 12.10.2020 Djibouti - Latest Developments -
Police crack down on protesters and journalists following rare demonstrations in Djibouti
Throughout June and July 2020, rare street protests broke out in support of former Djiboutian Air Force Lieutenant Fouad Youssouf Ali and against the treatment meted out to him while in detention. The protests were met with excessive force by security forces. Read more | Read in French

Tuesday 28.4.2020 Djibouti - Latest Developments -
Opposition members face increasing restrictions ahead of 2021 elections
Demonstration by RADDE (Rally for Action, Democracy and Ecological Development) slated for 16th April 2020 in front of the National Assembly banned by the Interior Minister; Protests in Arhiba, on the outskirts of the capital city, met with brutal force; ARD party reports kidnapping and arbitrary detention of one of their members Dilleyta Tourab; Report by the UN Secretary-General notes that journalist and human rights defender Kadar Abdi Ibrahim continued to suffer reprisals; Reporters Without Borders (RSF) unblocks the website of La Voix de Djibouti, Djibouti’s only independent media outlet; High-profile blogger, Samatar Ahmed Osman's wife arrested, detained and interrogated before release; Read more | Read in French

Wednesday 30.10.2019 Djibouti - Latest Developments -
Activists detained for exercising freedom of expression
youth activist arrested for sharing photos online of President Ismail Omar Guelleh sleeping during an international summit, activist arrested after making a speech on corruption that linked high level government officials in the Djibouti regime, Djiboutian government releases 19 Eritrean Prisoners of War (POWs) who were detained in Djibouti for 11 years Read more

Saturday 19.5.2018 Djibouti - Latest Developments -
Police crackdown on rare protest in Djibouti
Police used unnecessary and excessive force against dozens of protesters who had gathered in Tadjourah, Djibouti to denounce alleged nepotism. At least six peaceful protesters have been charged with threatening public order Read more

Friday 4.5.2018 Djibouti - Latest Developments -
HRD's passport confiscated ahead of Djibouti's Universal Periodic Review at the UN
Authorities confiscated the passport of human rights defender Kadar Abdi Ibrahim and therefore preventing him from leaving the country. Read more

Tuesday 27.2.2018 Djibouti - Latest Developments -
Opposition boycotts elections raising questions about its legitimacy
The opposition decided to boycott the elections held on 23rd February, claiming that it would not be free and fair. Read more

Monday 30.10.2017 Djibouti - Latest Developments -
Several injured during protests in Tadjourah
Reports from local rights groups indicated several injuries as a result of excessive force used against protestors in Tadjourah on 27th October. Read more

Wednesday 19.7.2017 Djibouti - Latest Developments -
Crackdown on critical voices intensifies
Chehem, nicknamed Chehem Renard, was arrested on the night of 5th June 2017 by agents of the Service de Recherche et de la Documentation at his home. Blogger Omar Mohamed Nour, better known by his pen name Omar Zohra, was arrested by security agents the following night on 6th June 2017 in his Q7bis neighbourhood. They were held incommunicado in an unknown location and released on 18th June 2017. Read more
