2008 Djiboutian parliamentary election

Background

In a decree on 26 December 2007, President Ismail Omar Guelleh set the election date for 8 February 2008. Subsequently, in a presidential decree on 6 January 2008, campaigning was scheduled to begin at midnight on 25 January and run until midnight on 6 February.

The newly formed Arta Region was represented as a separate constituency for the first time in the 2008 election. Three seats were at stake there.

Campaign

The UMP filed its list of candidates at the Interior Ministry on 10 January 2003. More than a third of its candidates were new, and nine of its candidates (14% of the total) were women. In addition to the main governing party, the People's Rally for Progress (RPP), the UMP coalition included the National Democratic Party (PND), the moderate faction of the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD), the People's Social Democratic Party (PSD), and the Union of Reform Partisans (UPR). Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita headed the UMP list. According to Dileita, the government's refusal to introduce proportional representation was due to the need to preserve "the tribal balance", pointing to chaotic conditions of neighboring Somalia as an example to avoid. He did, however, say that it might be necessary to consider introducing proportional representation at some future time.

Conduct

The African Union and the Arab League observed the election and gave it a positive assessment. The Constitutional Council validated the results on 17 February, and the National Assembly met for the first session of its new term on 20 February, re-electing Idriss Arnaoud Ali as President of the National Assembly.

Results

Yacin Elmi Bouh, the Minister of the Interior, announced on 9 February that the UMP had won all 65 seats and placed turnout at 72.61%, which he said was the highest in 15 years. Out of 151,490 registered voters, 109,999 were said to have voted, with 103,463 votes in favor of the UMP and 6,536 null votes. However, the number of people registering to vote had been low.

References

References

1. [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/pays/djibouti/article_depeche.asp?art_cle=AFP25428dbutdsevita0 "Début du vote avec retard pour les législatives"], AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), 8 February 2008.
2. [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20080208084843794C642596 "Djibouti votes amid opposition boycott"], AFP (''IOL''), February 8, 2008.
3. link. (May 21, 2011 , AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), 9 February 2008 {{in lang). fr.
4. [http://www.presidence.dj/jo/2007/decr0252pr07.php "Décret n°2007-0252/PR/MID fixant la date des éléctions législatives."] {{webarchive. link. (May 19, 2011 , Journal Officiel de la République de Djibouti, 26 December 2007 {{in lang). fr.
5. [http://www.presidence.dj/jo/2008/decr0001pr08.php "Décret n°2008-0001/PR/MID fixant la date d'ouverture et de fermeture de la campaqne électorale pour les élections législatives du 08 Février 2008."] {{webarchive. link. (May 19, 2011 , Journal Officiel de la République de Djibouti, 6 January 2008 {{in lang). fr.
6. [http://www.lanation.dj/news/2008/ln6/national6.htm "14% de sièges aux femmes"] {{webarchive. link. (2008-01-19 , ''La Nation'', 16 January 2008 {{in lang). fr.
7. [http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2089_E.htm IPU-PARLINE page for 2008 election].