According to an article in The Indian Ocean Newsletter, the detention of Nouh Omar Miguil, former paymaster(general, sparked mobilization of the Saad Moussa, sub-clan of the Issa (4 May 1996.). The article states that on the day of his questioning, several Saad Moussa members assembled in front of the police building. The situation deteriorated when they started throwing stones and breaking windows Iibid.). Members of the "Force National de Police" reportedly used tear(gas to disperse them (ibid.).

The Indian Ocean Newsletter further reports that in August 1996, a Saad Moussa ambassador to France, Ahmed Omar, was terminated (7 Sept. 1996, 4). The source states that Ahmed Omar was "one of the last members of the Saad Moussa clan to hang on to high office in the Djibouti regime" (ibid.).

Information on whether a purge was carried out against the Saad Moussa in the army and the "Gendarmerie Nationale" could not be found among the sources currently available to the DIRB.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB 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 attached the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris]. 7 September 1996. No. 731. "Djibouti: Envoy Recalled from Paris."

_____. 4 May 1996. No. 717. "Djibouti: Police Contra Saad Moussa."

The Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris]. 7 September 1996. No. 731. "Djibouti: Envoy Recalled from Paris," 4.

_____. 4 May 1996. "Djibouti: Police Contra Saad Moussa," p. 3.

Africa Confidential [London]. Weekly.

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [London]. Monthly.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1995. 1996. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

Horn Af Africa Bulletin [Uppsala]. Bi-monthly.

New African [London]. Monthly.

West Africa [London]. Weekly.

On-line search on NEXIS database.