Djibouti president Ismail Guelleh has accused his country’s opposition parties of trying to create chaos by inciting violence as parts of their political campaign for the upcoming presidential elections in the tiny horn of Africa nation.
Speaking to the BBC Somali Service Thursday, Mr. Guelleh said that his opponents are behaving ‘awkwardly’ by copy-catting other countries’ opposition parties, a scenario which he said threatens to create violence and spreading ‘hatred’ across Djibouti.
“The so-called opposition parties are seeking publicity by saying that the country has no government, therefore we don’t consider such things as genuine opposition argument,” He said.
“That’s unacceptable and we shall deal with them. They are just trying to learn how to practice political opposition ,” He said in the interview.
In the meantime, Mr. Guelleh has also denied reports of arbitrary arrests and cold-blood murders against Djibouti’s political dissidents, assuring that equal rights were applied to all citizens.
The long-serving president of Djibouti has recently announced that he would run the upcoming 2016 presidential elections, in response to ‘calls’ from his supporters who he claimed urged him to lead the tiny horn of Africa nation for the fourth time.
His administration which was credited for economy growth had maintained a firm grip over power in Djibouti; however, rights groups often accuse his government of silencing opposition politicians and journalists. Some of the opposition leaders were also chased to exile.
Elected as the President in 1999, Mr. Guelleh succeeded Hassan Gouled Aptidon, who had ruled Djibouti since independence in 1977.
He was re-elected in 2005 and again in 2011. However, his re-elections were boycotted by the opposition parties amid complaints over widespread irregularities.
Elections have taken place in Djibouti in every six years since the country’s civil war ended in the 1990s.
