Djibouti : Opposition denounces the lack of implementation of the political agreement with the government

The Djiboutian opposition on Monday denounced the “deadlock” in which is the implementation of the framework agreement signed in late December 2014 with President Ismail Omar Guelleh and supposed to resolve the crisis resulting from the contesting the 2013 elections.

“More than five months after the signing of the framework agreement, four months longer than the time for immediate democratic reforms  it is clear that the terms of the agreement were not realized,” writes in a statement Youssouf Ahmed Houmed, President Union for national salvation (USN) Djibouti seven party opposition coalition.

The USN, which had been awarded ten of the 65 Assembly seats after the 2013 legislation, contested the results, claiming to have won the election. The party of President Guelleh had obtained him the other 55 seats.

Long months of chaotic negotiations between government and opposition, launched under international pressure, had finally ended December 30, 2014 to a “framework agreement on political dialogue”, according to which the USN implicitly renounced its claim election victory in return democratic and institutional reforms in Djibouti.

Both parties had agreed in particular to rapidly undertake a reform of the Electoral Commission, the creation of a statute of the political opposition and the establishment of a code of conduct for political parties.

The agreement provided that the bills on these three points should be “designed and developed” by a Joint Parliamentary Committee and sent “within 30 days” the President of the Republic for approval by the Cabinet and transmission to the National Assembly.

Other reforms were also planned “short and medium term”, including that of the media law, or strengthening of laws relating to human rights and public freedoms.

The agreement provided that the bills on these three points should be “designed and developed” by a Joint Parliamentary Committee and sent “within 30 days” the President of the Republic for approval by the Cabinet and transmission to the National Assembly. Other reforms were also planned “short and medium term”, including that of the media law, or strengthening of laws relating to human rights and public freedoms. “More than five months of constant negotiations and multiple extensions (…) have failed to translate fully in the proceedings the terms of the agreement,” says Yusuf Ahmed Houmed seeking mediation of the international community to enforce this agreement. “Time is short and the presidential election that the Framework Agreement is supposed to make free and transparent (…) fast approaching,” says the president of the USN. The president is expected in 2016 and Ismaël Omar Guelleh, in power since 1999, told AFP early May did not seek to exclude a fourth term as permitted by the constitution of Djibouti amended in 2010.