Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights expelled from Djibouti

Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) Alexis Deswaef was arrested and expelled from Djibouti on Monday, FIDH said in a statement on Tuesday. The Belgian lawyer and human rights activist was on a 48-hour mission to Djibouti to assess the situation of human rights defenders in the East African country.

At around 5pm on Monday, four police officers intervened at the hotel where Deswaef was staying during his mission. He was taken to the airport and put on a plane to Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. He has not been informed of the reasons for his arrest. The Djibouti authorities confiscated his notes, mobile phone and SIM card.

During this mission, Deswaef met with Zakaria Abdillahi, the former President of the Djiboutian League for Human Rights (LDDH), an FIDH member organisation. He also met with civil society representatives, trade unionists, political opponents, as well as Western chancelleries and UN representatives.

The aim of Deswaef's mission was to assess the situation of human rights defenders in Djibouti and to support their work in denouncing the numerous human rights violations committed by the authorities.

This mission took place in the tense climate following the legislative elections of 24 February. The opposition did not take part in these elections, a situation that has persisted since the current president, Ismaïl Omar Guellah, came to power in 1999.

 ​ ​ "The lack of concern for human rights and the authoritarian slide of the Djiboutian state are alarming," said Deswaef. "What do they have to hide to be so afraid of an NGO mission?" he asked, before warning that "there will be no respite until we get answers".

(KOR)

^{Belgian lawyer and Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) Alexis Deswaef © BELGA PHOTO JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE}