A Parti de renouveau démocratique (PRD) newspaper called Le Renouveau including its existence in Djibouti, its current and past editors/editors-in-charge [DJI30295.E]

The Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series of June 1998 states that Le Renouveau is one of the two opposition papers suspended for allegedly publishing an article that was "judged defamatory" to Minister of Finance and the Economy, Yacin Elmi Bouh (13118). The directors of the papers were reportedly given a three-month suspended prison sentence and fined $8,500. However, the President of the Parti de renouveau democratique (PRD), and director of Le Renouveau, Abdillahi Hamarreth, allegedly defied the suspension order and published an article "accusing the director of electricity of Djibouti, Djama Ali Guelleh, for embezzling large sums of money during negotiations for the acquisition of a new electricity generating group." Consequently, he was reportedly arrested on 14 May 1998 and imprisoned (ibid.). Additional and/or corroborating information and information on the former editors/editors-in-chief of Le Renouveau could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Reference


Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. June 1998. Vol. 35. No. 5. "Djibouti: Opposition Under Pressure."

Additional Sources Consulted


Africa Confidential [London]. January - August 1998. Vol. 39. Nos. 1-17.

_____. January - December 1997. January - December 1997. Nos. 1-25.

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Issues [Oxford]. January - December 1997. Nos. 1-12.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 1997: 1998. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

Horn of Africa Bulletin [Uppsala]. Bimonthly. January 1997 - August 1998. Vols. 9-10. Nos. 1-4.

Jeune Afrique [Paris]. January-October 1998. Nos. 1930-19968.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. January - May 1998. Vol. 44. Nos. 1-5.

_____. January - December 1997. Vol. 43. Nos. 1-12.

New African [London]. January - October 1998. Nos. 359-367.

Nouvel/Afrique Asie [Paris]. January-October1998. Nos. 100-109.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, World News Connection (WNC).