The following information was provided by a representative of the Parti du renouveau démocratique (PRD) in Djibouti in a 14 January 1997 telephone interview.

Although the PRD is officially recognized party in Djibouti, active PRD members could be denied employment in the public sector or, if already employed, be demoted or even expelled from their job if their involvement with the PRD became known to the authorities. Active PRD members working in the private sector could be deprived of government contracts or even have their businesses shut down. For instance, in May 1996 the authorities shut down a private school because of the owner's involvement in the PRD newspaper. The authorities may also use economic threats against family members of PRD militants to pressure them to end their political activies.

Further information on the above-mentioned topic could not be found among the sources consulted by 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 find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Reference

Parti du renouveau démocratique (PRD), Djibouti. 14 January 1997. Telephone interview with representative.

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential [London]. Weekly.

Amnesty International Report. Yearly.

Amnesty International periodical reports and press releases.

Country Reports on Human Rights and Practices for 1995. 1996.

The Europa World Year Book. Yearly. 1996.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Daily Reports. 1996.

The Horn of Africa Bulletin [Upsala, Sweden]. Bimonthly.

Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris]. Weekly.

Jeune Afrique [Paris]. Weekly.

Material from the Indexed Media Review (IMR) or country files containing articles and reports from diverse sources (primarily dailies and periodicals) from the Weekly Media Review.

Le Nouvel Afrique-Asie [Paris]. Monthly.

On-line searches for news articles (NEXIS).

Political Handbook of the World 1995-1996. 1996. Yearly.