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Elections in Djibouti
 
Political Profile
Political System: Restricted Democratic Practice
President: lsmaïl Omar Guelleh (RPP) [UMP] [since 08 May 1999; elected 1999, re-elected 2005] The President is elected by direct popular vote for a 6-year term. Electoral System: Two Round (Run-off).
Prime Minister: Dileïta Mohamed Dileïta (RPP) [since 07 March 1999] The Prime Minister is appointed by the President.
National Assembly [unicameral] (65 Seats) Members are elected by direct popular vote in multi-member constituencies using the party-block vote system; members serve 5-year terms.
Political Situation since Independence
1977-1981 [De-Facto] One Party State (LPAI/RPP)
1981-1992 One Party State (RPP)
1992-1999 Restricted Democratic Practice
1999-2005 Emerging Democracy
2005-        Restricted Democratic Practice
2007 Freedom House Rating: Political Rights - 5, Civil Liberties - 5, Status: Partly Free
Next Scheduled Presidential Election: 2011
Next Scheduled National Assembly Election: January 2008
Political Parties: ARD - Republican Alliance for Development, FRUD - Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy, LPAI - African People's League for Independence, MPL - Popular Liberation Movement, PDD - Djiboutian Party for Development, PND - National Democratic Party, PPSD - Social Democratic People’s Party, PRD - Democratic Renewal Party, RPP - People’s Rally for Progress (authoritarian), UDJ - Union for Democracy and Justice, UNI - National Union for Independence.
Coalitions: People’s Rally for Progress-Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (RPP-FRUD) [Contested the 1997 National Assembly & 1999 Presidential Elections]; National Democratic Party-Democratic Renewal Party (PND-PRD) [Supported Moussa Ahmed Idriss in the 1999 Presidential Election]; Union for a Presidential Majority (UMP) [Contested the 2003 National Assembly & 2005 Presidential Elections] Led by the People’s Rally for Progress. Other member parties include the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD), National Democratic Party (PND), and the Social Democratic People’s Party (PPSD); Union for a Democratic Alternative (UAD) [Contested the 2003 National Assembly Election] Member parties include the Republican Alliance for Development (ARD), Movement for Democratic Renewal and Development (MRDD), Djiboutian Party for Development (PDD), and the Union for Democracy and Justice (UDJ); Movement for Democratic Renewal and Development (MRDD) [Contested the 2003 National Assembly Election as part of the Union for a Democratic Alternative coalition] An Alliance led by the Democratic Renewal Party (PRD).
 
Election Results
 
 
Presidential
--Multiparty: 1981, 1999, 2005
--Single Party: 1987
Legislative
--Multiparty: 1977, 1992, 1997, 2003
--Single Party: 1982, 1987
Plebiscite, Referenda: 1967, 1977, 1992
Regional & Communal: 2006
 
 
19 March 1967 Plebiscite
Main Points: Approval of continued status as a Territory within the French Republic

Registered Voters

 39,312

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

37,332 (95.0%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     111

Total Valid Votes

 37,221

Results

Number of Votes

% of Votes

"Yes" Votes

22,555

60.60%

"No" Votes

14,666

39.40%

 
08 May 1977 Referendum
Main Points: Independence from France

Registered Voters

 105,962

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

  81,847 (77.2%)

Results

% of Votes

"Yes" Votes

98.80%

"No" Votes

01.20%

 
08 May 1977 Constituent Assembly Election*

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

75,621 (N/A)

Party

% of Votes

Number of Seats (65)

African People's League for Independence (LPAI)

92.40%

65

*The election was boycotted by the National Union for Independence (UNI) and the Popular Liberation Movement (MPL).
 
12 June 1981 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (approx. 85%)

Candidate

% of Votes

Hassan Gouled Aptidon (RPP)

84.58%

 
Single Party Elections
Sole Legal Party: People's Rally for Progress (RPP)

21 May 1982 Chamber of Deputies Election (65 Seats)

24 April 1987 Presidential Election (Hassan Gouled Aptidon re-elected unopposed with 99.23% of the vote) Voter Turnout: 90.5%

24 April 1987 Chamber of Deputies Election (65 Seats) Voter Turnout: 88.7%

 
04 September 1992 Constitutional Referendum
Main Points: Multiparty System of Government

Registered Voters

 139,431

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

104,804 (75.2%)

Supplementary Question

Registered Voters

 139,431

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

104,804 (75.2%)

Results

% of Votes

"Yes" Votes

96.84%

"No" Votes

03.16%

Supplementary Question: Maximum of four political parties

Results

% of Votes

"Yes" Votes

96.79%

"No" Votes

03.21%

 
18 December 1992 National Assembly Election*

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (approx. 43%)

Party

% of Votes

Number of Seats (65)

People’s Rally for Progress (RPP)

76.71%

65

Democratic Renewal Party (PRD)

23.29%

-

*Boycotted by the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD).
 
07 May 1993 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

 150,487

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

  75,635 (50.3%)

Candidate (Party)

% of Votes

Hassan Gouled Aptidon (RPP)

60.7%

Mohamed Djama Elabé (PRD)

22.0%

Aden Robleh Awaleh (PND)

12.3%

Mohamed Moussa Ali

3.0%

Ahmed Ibrahim Abdi

2.0%

 
19 December 1997 National Assembly Election [Results by District]

Registered Voters

 166,276

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

  94,303 (56.7%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    2,556

Total Valid Votes

   91,747

Party/[Coalition]

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (65)

People’s Rally for Progress-Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy [RPP-FRUD]

72,073

78.56%

65

 

People’s Rally for Progress (PRP)

      

54

Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD)

11

Democratic Renewal Party (PRD)

17,607

19.19%

-

National Democratic Party (PND)

2,067

2.25%

-

 
09 April 1999 Presidential Election [Results by District]

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

105,025 (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    1,200

Total Valid Votes

 103,825

Candidate (Party) [Coalition]

Number of Votes

% of Votes

lsmaïl Omar Guelleh (RPP) [RPP-FRUD]

76,853

74.02%

Moussa Ahmed Idriss* [PND-PRD]

26,972

25.98%

*Moussa Ahmed Idriss ran as an independent candidate supported by the National Democratic Party-Democratic Renewal Party (PND-PRD) coalition.
 
10 January 2003 National Assembly Election [Results by District]

Registered Voters

 178,799

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

  85,540 (47.8%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    1,548

Total Valid Votes

   83,992

Coalition

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (65)

Union for a Presidential Majority [UMP]

52,411

62.4%

65

Union for a Democratic Alternative [UAD]

31,581

37.6%

-

 
08 April 2005 Presidential Election* [Results by District]

Registered Voters

 208,098

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

149,125 (71.7%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    4,692

Total Valid Votes

 144,433

Candidate (Party) [Coalition]

Number of Votes

% of Votes

lsmaïl Omar Guelleh (RPP) [UMP]

144,433

100.00%

*lsmaïl Omar Guelleh ran unopposed; Boycotted by the main opposition parties.