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Constitutional Amendment Could Undermine Djiboutiâs Peace and Security,
Opposition Figure Says

   An  independent  presidential candidate says Djibouti could be plunged
   into  chaos  if President Ismail Omar Guelleh changes the constitution
   that  extends  his  mandate  which is due to expire ahead of the April
   2011 general election.

   Peter Clottey 22 March 2010

   Djibouti's national army

   An  independent  presidential candidate says Djibouti could be plunged
   into  chaos  if President Ismail Omar Guelleh changes the constitution
   that  extends  his  mandate  which is due to expire ahead of the April
   2011 general election.

   Abdirahman Boreh said opposition parties are in negotiations to form a
   coalition to challenge the ruling Peopleâs Rally for Progress (RPP) in
   the vote.

   âOur  constitution  states  clearly that there should be a referendum.
   Secondly,  if it is democracy you know you can change the constitution
   (on)  minor  things  but  you  cannot change the fact that we have two
   terms election for the (presidential) terms. If the people cannot take
   back the power from the government and chose their own president, then
   there is no democracy,â he said.

   President  Guelleh  was  quoted  as  saying the people of Djibouti are
   demanding  a change to the constitution which will extend presidential
   term limits.

   "This  is a demand from our population and this will be next year. Let
   us  wait for the outcome of the national commission that is working on
   the subject,â President Guelleh was quoted as saying.

   But Boreh claims the people of Djibouti are despondent under President
   Guellehâs leadership.

   âYou  have  studies  made by the UN; you have got studies by the World
   Food  Program,  the  Red  Cross,  USAID,  showing exactly the level of
   poverty  the  level of unemployment, the anxiety in Djibouti (and) the
   instability  that  is  developing  because  people are unhappy,â Boreh
   said.

   Under  Djiboutiâs  1992  constitution,  the  president  is  elected by
   popular  vote  for a six-year term. The prime minister is appointed by
   the  president  and  the  Council  of  Ministers is responsible to the
   president.

   The  constitution,  which  was approved by the electorate in September
   1992, maintained many laws and decrees from before independence.

   Political   observers  say  the  ruling  RPP  party  tightly  controls
   Djiboutiâs  political  activities despite the recent constitution that
   legalized opposition political parties.

   Boreh  said  the  opposition  parties  will  soon  form a coalition to
   challenge the ruling RPP in next yearâs vote.

   âItâs (discussion) is very advanced. There are already three political
   parties,  which  came  together (and) there are two more coming. There
   would  be  five  out  of  the  existing eight parties which are now in
   Djibouti,â Boreh said.

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