Djiboutian presidential election, 2011
Encyclopedia
Voters in Djibouti re-elected President Ismail Omar Guelleh
by an 80% margin in that nation's April 8, 2011 presidential election. He defeated Mohamed Warsama Ragueh, an attorney and former judge who took 19% of the vote.
Djibouti's opposition coalitions boycotted the election, saying it would not be free and fair, leaving only President Guelleh and Ragueh, who had served as President of Djibouti's Constitutional Council in 2005. Ragueh has complained about irregularities in the voting.
amended the Constitution to allow Guelleh to stand for a third term. Presidents had been limited to two terms.
Coinciding with the wider 2010-2011 Middle East and North Africa protests, protesters began calling for President Guelleh's ouster beginning in February 2011. On at least two occasions the government has detained opposition leaders and has imprisoned many protesters.
Democracy International (DI), an organization funded by USAID, had been in the country since November planning to monitor the elections, but was told to leave by the government in March 21, 2011 after officials questioned its impartiality. The African Union and the U.S. and French embassies sent some observers to monitor the elections, as did other regional groups.
Another potential candidate, businessman Abdourahman Boreh, who lives in self-imposed exile in London, did not participate because Guelleh was on the ballot.
Guelleh was sworn in for his third term on 8 May 2011.
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'....
by an 80% margin in that nation's April 8, 2011 presidential election. He defeated Mohamed Warsama Ragueh, an attorney and former judge who took 19% of the vote.
Djibouti's opposition coalitions boycotted the election, saying it would not be free and fair, leaving only President Guelleh and Ragueh, who had served as President of Djibouti's Constitutional Council in 2005. Ragueh has complained about irregularities in the voting.
Run up to the election
In April 2010, the National Assembly of DjiboutiNational 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...
amended the Constitution to allow Guelleh to stand for a third term. Presidents had been limited to two terms.
Coinciding with the wider 2010-2011 Middle East and North Africa protests, protesters began calling for President Guelleh's ouster beginning in February 2011. On at least two occasions the government has detained opposition leaders and has imprisoned many protesters.
Democracy International (DI), an organization funded by USAID, had been in the country since November planning to monitor the elections, but was told to leave by the government in March 21, 2011 after officials questioned its impartiality. The African Union and the U.S. and French embassies sent some observers to monitor the elections, as did other regional groups.
Another potential candidate, businessman Abdourahman Boreh, who lives in self-imposed exile in London, did not participate because Guelleh was on the ballot.
Guelleh was sworn in for his third term on 8 May 2011.