Information on the Union de mouvements démocratiques (UMD), including its member organizations, the number of members elected to parliament, and its aims, founding and current leaders and the government's attitude toward it [DJI18422.E]

The Union de mouvements démocratiques (UMD) was formed in 1990 after a merger between the former Front démocratique pour la libération de Djibouti (FDLD) and the Mouvement national djiboutien pour l'instauration de la démocratie (MNDID) (Europa 1993 1993, 955). The UMD is headed by Aden Robleh Awalleh and Muhammad Adoyta, who serve as co-presidents (ibid.).

Information on the UMD's aims is currently unavailable to the DIRB in Ottawa, however, for a likeness of these aims, please refer to the aims and objectives of the MNDID and FDLD as stated on page 210 of the attachment from Political Handbook of the World: 1992. The same source states that the UMD is an ally of the Front pour la Restauration de l'Unité et de la Démocratie (FRUD), a coalition of opposition groups "fighting to overthrow President Gouled's tribal dictatorship" and install a "democratic, multiparty system" (ibid.). For information on government attitudes toward the UMD, please refer to pages 75 to 79 of Country Reports 1993, currently available at your Regional Documentation Centre, and to the attachments from Freedom in the World 1993-1994 and Encyclopedia of the Third World.

The most recent Djiboutian legislative election for the 65-member Chamber of Deputies was held in 1992 (Africa Research Bulletin 1-31 Dec. 1992, 10815; Frémy and Frémy 1994, 970; Europa 1993 1993, 951; The Indian Ocean Newsletter 26 Dec. 1992, 4; Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East 1993, 77; Keesing's Dec. 1992, 39226). All 65 seats were won by candidates of the governing Rassemblement populaire pour le progrès (RPP) led by President Hassan Gouled Aptidon (ibid.). The 1987 legislative election which the RPP won, was not contested by the other parties as the RPP was then the only legal party in Djibouti (Frémy and Frémy 1994, 970; Europa 1993 1993, 951; Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East 1993, 77; Encyclopedia of the Third World 1992, 490-92).

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.

References

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. 1-31 December 1992. Vol. 29, No. 12. "Djibouti: First Multiparty Elections."

Encyclopedia of the Third World. 1992. 4th ed. Vol. 1. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. New York: Facts on File.

The Europa World Year Book 1993. 1993. 34th ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.

Frémy, Dominique and Michèle Frémy. 1993. Quid 1994. Paris: Editions Robert Laffont.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris]. 26 December 1992. No. 556. "Djibouti: A Pointless Election."

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. December 1992. Vol. 38, No. 12. "Djibouti: Total Election Victory for RPP New Fighting."

Political Handbook of the World: 1992. 1992. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East. 1993. Edited by Roger East and Tanya Joseph. The High, Harlow, Essex: Longman Group UK.

Attachments

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. 1-31 December 1992. Vol. 29, No. 12. "Djibouti: First Multiparty Elections," p. 10815.

Encyclopedia of the Third World. 1992. 4th ed. Vol. 1. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. New York: Facts on File, pp. 489-92.

The Europa World Year Book 1993. 1993. 34th ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications, p. 955.

Freedom House. 1993. Freedom in the World 1993-1994. New York: Freedom House, pp. 230-31.

Frémy, Dominique and Michèle Frémy. 1993. Quid 1994. Paris: Editions Robert Laffont, p. 970.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris]. 26 December 1992. No. 556. "Djibouti: A Pointless Election," p. 4.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. December 1992. Vol. 38, No. 12. "Djibouti: Total Election Victory for RPP New Fighting," p. 39226.

Political Handbook of the World: 1992. 1992. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications, pp. 207-11.

Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East. 1993. Edited by Roger East and Tanya Joseph. The High, Harlow, Essex: Longman Group UK, pp. 76-79.