Djiboutian parliamentary election, 2013

Djiboutian parliamentary election, 2013

22 February 2013

All 65 seats to the National Assembly   First party Second party   USN Leader Ismaïl Omar Guelleh Omar Elmi Khaireh Party UMP USN Seats won 43 21 Seat change 22 21 Popular vote 73,817 42,721 Percentage 61.5% 35.6% Swing 32.56% 35.6%

President before election Idriss Arnaoud Ali RPP Elected President Idriss Arnaoud Ali RPP

Parliamentary elections were held in Djibouti on 22 February 2013.^[1] After their boycott of the 2008 elections, opposition groups contested the elections as the Union for National Safety alliance.^[2] According to government figures, the ruling Union for the Presidential Majority won 43 of 65 seats in Parliament.^[3] However, the opposition claimed the figures for Djibouti city were falsified and released alternative results which would have reduced the UMP to 40 seats and increased their total from 21 to 25.^[3]

Results

 Summary of the 22 February 2013 National Assembly of Djibouti election results

Parties and coalitions		Votes	%	Seats
	Union for the Presidential Majority	73,817	61.5	43
	Union for National Salvation	42,721	35.6	21
	Centre of Unified Democrats	3,554	3.0	1
Invalid/blank votes		2,241	–	–
Total		122,333	100	65
Registered voters/turnout		176,878	69.2	–
Source: Adam Carr's Election Archive

Aftermath

On 26 February 2013, UNS spokesman Daher Ahmed Farah said police fired tear gas on demonstrators that were protesting the election results. 300 people were arrested. "The situation is tense," Farah said. "The opposition won the elections and the victory was denied... the numbers were manipulated."^[4] The National Assembly began meeting for its new parliamentary term on 18 March 2013. Idriss Arnaoud Ali was re-elected without opposition as President of the National Assembly. 10 opposition deputies were not present.^[5][6]

References

1. IOG takes risk of renewing RPP top brass Africa Intelligence, 6 October 2012
2. Djibouti regime facing tough poll The Australian, 21 February 2013
3. Republic of Djibouti Legislative Election of 22 February 2013 Adam Carr
4. http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=57197
5. "La nouvelle assemblée nationale tient sa séance inaugurale", Agence Djiboutienne d'Information, 18 March 2013 (French)
6. Séance Inaugurale de la 7ème Législature de l’Assemblée nationale: Arnaoud reconduit au « perchoir » La Nation, 19 March 2013 (French)