Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Representation of the Movement for Democratic Renewal and Development (MRD) in North America

Information on MRD representation in North America was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

The following information is posted on the website of the MRD in Djibouti:

[translation]

The MRD is the first Djiboutian party to organize members exiled in the West. … [T]o continue advocating, but also to represent the party in the host country, exiled members come together and elect a governing body and its president. This is the case in Belgium, North America, France, the United Kingdom and Sweden. (MRD n.d.a)

In a message addressed to Djiboutis in March 2016 posted on the Chadian news site Alwihda Info, Daher Ahmed Farah, President of the MRD, similarly states that his party was the first [translation] “to establish itself outside Djibouti, with branches in Europe and North America” (Alwihda Info 10 Mar. 2016).

In an advertisement posted on 11 January 2013 on the Djibnet information portal, which focuses on Djibouti and the Horn of Africa, the [translation] “MRD Office in North America” indicates that it is organizing a meeting with its base, activists and Djiboutian democrats that will be held on 13 January 2013 at 2100 Russell Street in Ottawa (Djibnet 11 Jan. 2013). Jean-Paul Noël Abdi, then president of the Djiboutian League for Human Rights (Ligue djiboutienne des droits humains - LDDH), [translation] “a not-for-profit Djiboutian human rights NGO” (LDDH n.d.), stated the following in a speech given during his visit to the MRD Office in North America in July 2011, which was appended to an MRD article posted on the website of the Association for Respect of Human Rights in Djibouti (Association pour le respect des droits de l’homme à Djibouti - ARDHD): [translation] “Ottawa must be our capital of national resistance against the Djiboutian Gestapo” (MRD 30 July 2011).

An undated article announcing the creation of the MRD Office in Holland, posted under “Actualités” on the MRD website, reports the following:

[translation]

It is worth noting that on 13 August 2016, MRD activists in Holland informed MRD President Daher Ahmed Farah, who was visiting Holland at the time, of their intention to form the committee, and he encouraged them to do so. Good luck to the new MRD committee, which joins the ranks of existing operational committees in Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, Sweden and North America. (MRD n.d.b)

1.1 Presidents (2005-2018)

Information on the presidents or representatives of the MRD Office in North America from 2005 to 2011 could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to the MRD article posted on the ARDHD’s website, which summarizes Jean-Paul Noël’s visit to Canada in July 2011, Jean-Paul Noël was greeted by [translation] “a delegation from the MRD Office comprised of Office President Ahmed Ibrahim Abdallah, the Office’s Secretary General Mhamed Houssein [Mohamed Houssein], and Deputy Office Chief Liban Abdi Khaire [Liban Abdi Khaireh]” (MRD 30 July 2011). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

A press release by the MRD [translation] “in North America” dated 5 March 2013 and posted on the website of the Republican Alliance for Development (Alliance républicaine pour le développement - ARD), a Djiboutian political party, is also signed by [translation] “Ahmed Ibrahim, MRD Office in North America” (MRD 5 Mar. 2013).

According to the MRD’s website, Ahmed Ibrahim Abdallah is the president [translation] “of exiled MRD members” in North America (MRD n.d.a).

2. Membership Documents

Information on membership documents, including membership cards and letters, from the MRD Office in North America could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

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 for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Alwihda Info. 10 March 2016. Daher Ahmed Farah. “Djibouti : message de Daher Ahmed Farah aux Djiboutiens.” [Accessed 8 Jan. 2018]

Djibnet. 11 January 2013. “Le Bureau du MRD en Amérique du Nord organise une réunion de travail.” [Accessed 9 Jan. 2018]

Ligue djiboutienne des droits humains (LDDH). N.d. “Présentation de la LDDH.” [Accessed 18 Jan. 2018]

Mouvement pour le renouveau démocratique et le développement (MRD). 5 March 2013. MRD Office in North America. “Communiqué de presse du MRD (Mouvement pour le renouveau démocratique et le développement d’Amérique du Nord).” [Accessed 8 Jan. 2018]

Mouvement pour le renouveau démocratique et le développement (MRD). 30 July 2011. MRD Office in North America. “Compte-rendu de la visite de Jean-Paul Noël Abdi, président de la LDDH au Canada.” [Accessed 5 Jan. 2018]

Mouvement pour le renouveau démocratique et le développement (MRD). N.d.a. “MRD Monde.” [Accessed 11 Jan. 2018]

Mouvement pour le renouveau démocratique et le développement (MRD). N.d.b. “Le comité du MRD en Hollande est créé.” [Accessed 11 Jan. 2018]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Member of the organizing committee of a visit by the MRD President to Ottawa; Mouvement pour le renouveau démocratique et le développement – Djibouti.

Internet sites, including: Afrik.com; Agence djiboutienne d'information; AllAfrica; Amnesty International; BBC; ecoi.net; Factiva; Freedom House; Human Rights Watch; International Crisis Group; IRIN; La Nation; Political Handbook of the World; Radio France internationale; United Nations – Refworld; US – Department of State.