Djiboutian parliamentary election, 2003
Encyclopedia
The 2003 Djiboutian parliamentary election took place in Djibouti
on the 10 January 2003 to elect the National Assembly of Djibouti
. The ruling coalition of President Ismail Omar Guelleh
won all 65 seats in the election defeating an opposition coalition.
from 1977 to 1992, limited opposition was allowed in the last two parliamentary elections. The previous parliamentary election in 1997
however still saw supporters of President Guelleh win all of the seats in Parliament. The situation was changed for the 2003 election in that a law under which the number of political parties
was restricted to four expired and full multi-party democracy
was allowed.
For parliamentary elections Djibouti is divided up into five constituencies
, with each constituency having varying number of seats. In each consituency the party or coalition which won the highest vote received all of the seats from that constituency. The 2003 election would also be the first time women would be elected to the Djibouti parliament after a new law was passed requiring a minimum of 10% male or female candidates on each parties candidate list.
comprised the parties People's Rally for Progress
, Front for Restoration of Unity and Democracy, National Democratic Party
and the Social Democratic People's Party
. They were opposed in the election by an opposition coalition called the Union for a Democratic Change in Government and led by a former Prime Minister Ahmed Dini Ahmed
. This coalition comprised the Republican Alliance for Democracy
, Movement for Democratic Renewal and Development
, Djibouti Party for Development
and the Djibouti Union for Democracy and Justice
.
Five of the parties in these coalitions were new, having been formed since the law restricting the number of political parties had expired. The opposition alliance was hurt by the decision of Aden Robleh Awaleh
and his National Democratic Party to move from the opposition to being a member of the government coalition. Government supporters attacked the opposition leader Ahmed Dini Ahmed
for his previous role as a leader of the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy
during the Djiboutian Civil War
in the early 1990s. The Union for the Presidential Majority called for voters to support them so they could continue to bring economic development
to Djibouti and to reduce poverty
and unemployment
. Meanwhile the opposition criticised the government's record, accusing it of numerous failures and called on voters to bring political change to Djibouti.
where they won just short of 45% of the vote. The election saw 7 women elected to parliament for the first time.
International election monitors generally praised the election saying that "the electoral operations have been free from irregularities". However the opposition denounced the results saying that they were fraudulent and that there had been ballot stuffing
, multiple voting and some voting cards had not been distributed. The opposition leader Dini said he would take their case to the constitutional court, but called on his supporters to not launch street protests.
Djibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
on the 10 January 2003 to elect the National Assembly of Djibouti
National Assembly of Djibouti
The National Assembly is the unicameral legislative branch of the government of Djibouti.-Overview:It consists of 65 members – 30 Somali and 30 Afar – elected to serve five-year terms in multi-seat constituencies...
. The ruling coalition of President Ismail Omar Guelleh
Ismail Omar Guelleh
Ismaïl Omar Guelleh is the President of Djibouti. He succeeded his uncle, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, in 1999. He is often referred to in the region by his initials 'IOG'....
won all 65 seats in the election defeating an opposition coalition.
Background
After being a one party stateSingle-party state
A single-party state, one-party system or single-party system is a type of party system government in which a single political party forms the government and no other parties are permitted to run candidates for election...
from 1977 to 1992, limited opposition was allowed in the last two parliamentary elections. The previous parliamentary election in 1997
Djiboutian parliamentary election, 1997
Parliamentary elections were held in Djibouti on 19 December 1997. The Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy, which had boycotted the last election, ran joint candidates with the ruling People's Rally for Progress. Together, they won all 65 seats in the National Assembly, with the PRP...
however still saw supporters of President Guelleh win all of the seats in Parliament. The situation was changed for the 2003 election in that a law under which the number of political parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
was restricted to four expired and full multi-party democracy
Multi-party system
A multi-party system is a system in which multiple political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition, e.g.The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in the United Kingdom formed in 2010. The effective number of parties in a multi-party system is normally...
was allowed.
For parliamentary elections Djibouti is divided up into five constituencies
Electoral district
An electoral district is a distinct territorial subdivision for holding a separate election for one or more seats in a legislative body...
, with each constituency having varying number of seats. In each consituency the party or coalition which won the highest vote received all of the seats from that constituency. The 2003 election would also be the first time women would be elected to the Djibouti parliament after a new law was passed requiring a minimum of 10% male or female candidates on each parties candidate list.
Campaign
The election was contested between two coalitions. The ruling Union for a Presidential Majority led by Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed DileitaDileita Mohamed Dileita
Dileita Mohamed Dileita has been the Prime Minister of Djibouti since March 2001. He is the Vice-President of the main governing party, the People's Rally for Progress , and is the President of the governing coalition, the Union for a Presidential Majority .-Biography:Dileita was born in Tadjoura...
comprised the parties People's Rally for Progress
People's Rally for Progress
The People's Rally for Progress , is a political party in Djibouti. It has dominated politics in the country since 1979, initially under the rule of President Hassan Gouled Aptidon...
, Front for Restoration of Unity and Democracy, National Democratic Party
National Democratic Party (Djibouti)
The National Democratic Party , is a political party in Djibouti. It was founded as an opposition party in 1992 by Aden Robleh Awaleh, who remains the party's president. It is currently part of the ruling coalition....
and the Social Democratic People's Party
Social Democratic People's Party (Djibouti)
The Social Democratic People's Party , is a centre-left, social democratic political party, in Djibouti, founded in 2002 and led by Moumin Bahdon Farah. It is part of the governing coalition, the Union for a Presidential Majority ....
. They were opposed in the election by an opposition coalition called the Union for a Democratic Change in Government and led by a former Prime Minister Ahmed Dini Ahmed
Ahmed Dini Ahmed
Ahmed Dini Ahmed was a Djiboutian politician. He served as Vice-President of the Government Council from 1959 to 1960 as a member of the African People's League for Independence and was later Prime Minister of Djibouti from 1977 to 1978...
. This coalition comprised the Republican Alliance for Democracy
Republican Alliance for Democracy
The Republican Alliance for Democracy , is an opposition political party in Djibouti, founded by Ahmed Dini Ahmed. In the parliamentary election held on 10 January 2003, the party was part of the Union for a Democratic Change , which won 37.3 % of the popular vote but no seats in the National...
, Movement for Democratic Renewal and Development
Movement for Democratic Renewal and Development
The Movement for Democratic Renewal and Development , is a political party in Djibouti. It was originally known as the Party for Democratic Renewal. The PRD of Djibouti was created with the purpose of forming a national democratic party. The PRD gained popularity at the collapse of the communist...
, Djibouti Party for Development
Djibouti Party for Development
The Djibouti Party for Development , is a political party in Djibouti. In the parliamentary election held on 10 January 2003, the party was part of the Union for a Democratic Change , which won 37.3% of the popular vote but no seats in the National Assembly....
and the Djibouti Union for Democracy and Justice
Djibouti Union for Democracy and Justice
The Djibouti Union for Democracy and Justice , is a political party in Djibouti. In the parliamentary election held on 10 January 2003, the party was part of the Union for a Democratic Change , which won 37.3% of the popular vote but no seats in the National Assembly....
.
Five of the parties in these coalitions were new, having been formed since the law restricting the number of political parties had expired. The opposition alliance was hurt by the decision of Aden Robleh Awaleh
Aden Robleh Awaleh
Aden Robleh Awaleh is a Djiboutian politician and President of the National Democratic Party . He is currently a member of the National Assembly of Djibouti....
and his National Democratic Party to move from the opposition to being a member of the government coalition. Government supporters attacked the opposition leader Ahmed Dini Ahmed
Ahmed Dini Ahmed
Ahmed Dini Ahmed was a Djiboutian politician. He served as Vice-President of the Government Council from 1959 to 1960 as a member of the African People's League for Independence and was later Prime Minister of Djibouti from 1977 to 1978...
for his previous role as a leader of the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy
Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy
The Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy , is a political party in Djibouti. It is aligned with the interests of the Afar people who live in that country, although it has supporters residing outside of Djibouti....
during the Djiboutian Civil War
Djiboutian Civil War
The Djiboutian Civil War was a conflict in Djibouti between the People's Rally for Progress government and the predominantly Afar rebel group, the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy...
in the early 1990s. The Union for the Presidential Majority called for voters to support them so they could continue to bring economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
to Djibouti and to reduce poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
and unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
. Meanwhile the opposition criticised the government's record, accusing it of numerous failures and called on voters to bring political change to Djibouti.
Election results
The results saw the Union for the Presidential Majority win all of the seats in the Djibouti parliament after topping the vote in all five constituencies. In total they won 62.7% as against 37.3% for the opposition coalition. The opposition came closest to winning seats in the capital Djibouti cityDjibouti (city)
The City of Djibouti is the capital and largest city in the Republic of Djibouti, a nation in the Horn of Africa. The biggest settlement on the Gulf of Tadjoura, it lies on a peninsula that separates that basin from the Gulf of Aden.-History:...
where they won just short of 45% of the vote. The election saw 7 women elected to parliament for the first time.
International election monitors generally praised the election saying that "the electoral operations have been free from irregularities". However the opposition denounced the results saying that they were fraudulent and that there had been ballot stuffing
Ballot stuffing
Ballot stuffing is the illegal act of one person submitting multiple ballots during a vote in which only one ballot per person is permitted. The name originates from the earliest days of this practice in which people literally did stuff more than one ballot in a ballot box at the same time...
, multiple voting and some voting cards had not been distributed. The opposition leader Dini said he would take their case to the constitutional court, but called on his supporters to not launch street protests.