Mohamed Daoud Chehem
Encyclopedia
Mohamed Daoud Chehem is a senior civil servant, noted opposition leader and former presidential candidate for the Azuria Development Party (PDD) in Djibouti
. Chehem is a member of the Afar
ethnic group, and was part of the Afar rebel Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy
(FRUD) opposition movement. In 1991, in a wave of mass arrests in the midst of a civil war
between FRUD and Hassan Gouled Aptidon
's oppressive regime, Chehem was imprisoned and tortured. Amnesty International
, in a statement, said that prisoners like Chehem "may in fact be prisoners of conscience, imprisoned because of their opposition to the government rather than because there is any evidence that they participated in anti-government violence." In 1997 it was widely reported that Chehem along with five other FRUD members, was abducted from Ethiopia
and given over to agents of Hassan Gouled Aptidon
's regime. Chehem was again subjected to torture and the political prisoners' plight became the subject of campaigns by Amnesty International and other human rights
groups. In addition, United Nations
Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights
, Nigel S. Rodley
sent an urgent request for their release to Aptidon's government.
During the April 2005 elections
in Djibouti, only the country's third multiparty presidential election, Chehem became a prominent opposition candidate. But he eventually dropped out of the campaign in March, citing lack of funds and harassment by the government. Ismail Omar Guelleh
, the current president has served since 1999 and his regime has been decried for its authoritarian nature and human rights
violations. Chehem was the last of the opposition candidates to drop out, leaving Guellah to run unopposed and win 100% of the vote. Chehem and other opposition leaders have since accused Guellah of attempting to return Djibouti to single-party rule
.
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...
. Chehem is a member of the Afar
Afar
Afar may refer to:*Afar people, ethnic group principally residing in Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia*Afar Insurgency, alternative name for the Djiboutian Civil War of November 1991-December 1994*Afar Triangle, a geological depression near the Horn of Africa...
ethnic group, and was part of the Afar rebel 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....
(FRUD) opposition movement. In 1991, in a wave of mass arrests in the midst of a civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
between FRUD and Hassan Gouled Aptidon
Hassan Gouled Aptidon
Hassan Gouled Aptidon was the first President of Djibouti from 1977 to 1999.-Biography:...
's oppressive regime, Chehem was imprisoned and tortured. Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, in a statement, said that prisoners like Chehem "may in fact be prisoners of conscience, imprisoned because of their opposition to the government rather than because there is any evidence that they participated in anti-government violence." In 1997 it was widely reported that Chehem along with five other FRUD members, was abducted from Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
and given over to agents of Hassan Gouled Aptidon
Hassan Gouled Aptidon
Hassan Gouled Aptidon was the first President of Djibouti from 1977 to 1999.-Biography:...
's regime. Chehem was again subjected to torture and the political prisoners' plight became the subject of campaigns by Amnesty International and other human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
groups. In addition, United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights
United Nations Commission on Human Rights
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights was a functional commission within the overall framework of the United Nations from 1946 until it was replaced by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2006...
, Nigel S. Rodley
Nigel S. Rodley
Sir Nigel Simon Rodley KBE is an international human rights lawyer and professor.-Current positions:Rodley is:*a member of the UN Human Rights Committee, a body of 18 human rights experts that monitors UN member states' compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and*a...
sent an urgent request for their release to Aptidon's government.
During the April 2005 elections
Djiboutian presidential election, 2005
The 2005 Djiboutian presidential election took place on the 8 April 2005. The incumbent President of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh, was re-elected to a second six year term in an unopposed election.-Background:...
in Djibouti, only the country's third multiparty presidential election, Chehem became a prominent opposition candidate. But he eventually dropped out of the campaign in March, citing lack of funds and harassment by the government. 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'....
, the current president has served since 1999 and his regime has been decried for its authoritarian nature and human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
violations. Chehem was the last of the opposition candidates to drop out, leaving Guellah to run unopposed and win 100% of the vote. Chehem and other opposition leaders have since accused Guellah of attempting to return Djibouti to single-party rule
Single-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...
.