US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI1533

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 001533 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, DJ 
SUBJECT: MAJORITY PARTIES HOLD CONGRESS TO SELECT 
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE 
 
REF: DJIBOUTI 1377 
 
Classified By: Pol/Econ Erinn C. Reed for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) Summary: Two parties within the ruling coalition held 
congresses to select their presidential candidate and 
formulate plans for the elections scheduled for April 2005. 
The Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD) 
held an ordinary session of the National Council on 24 
November. In meetings presided over by party president Ali 
Mohamed Daoud, the party members unanimously chose Ismail 
Omar Guelleh as their candidate. The Popular Social 
Democratic Party (PPDS) held its congress 25 November and 
also nominated Guelleh as their candidate for the 
presidential race. The four ruling coalition parties which 
comprise the Union for Popular Majority (UMP) have now all 
endorsed or nominated Guelleh as their candidate, making 
Guelleh the official UMP candidate. End Summary. 
 
2. (U) The FRUD congress held 24 November unanimously 
selected President Ismail Omar Guelleh as the party's 
candidate for the presidential election scheduled for April 
2005. The president of FRUD, Ali Mohamed Daoud, stated that 
the last ten years of partnership with the ruling party, 
Popular Rally for Progress (RPP), have been overall very 
satisfying. However, Daoud did comment that despite the 
numerous promises fulfilled from the last presidential 
campaign, there were still points agreed upon in the peace 
accords from 1995 that have not been accomplished. Daoud 
specifically mentioned poverty, youth unemployment, social 
justice, and rural development as areas with unmet needs. 
(Note: FRUD was once the political faction of the rebellious 
movement of the same name that began the civil war in the 
early 1990's. The armed faction of FRUD is now known as the 
opposition party Alliance of Republican Democracy (ARD), the 
party of late Ahmed Dini Ahmed. End Note.) 
 
3. (U) The PPSD congress held 25 November also selected 
Guelleh as candidate and focused on the party's path for the 
future. The congress was led by party leader, Moumin Bahdon 
Farah, who emphasized the need for party members to enhance 
democracy within the party through participation in the 
functioning of the party by making monetary contributions to 
increase its budget. The PPSD celebrated its second 
anniversary as an official political party this year. Farah 
also asked party members to show commitment to party ideals 
like social welfare, the fight against poverty, and 
assistance to more vulnerable portions of the population. The 
PPSD approved Guelleh's economic and social program for the 
coming election and expressed their belief that the Doraleh 
project will contribute to a better life for all Djiboutians. 
 
4. (C) Comment: The Journal Officiel published September 15th 
announced the promotion of 14 military officers. However, 
according to sources within the Djiboutian military 
headquarters these 14 persons were not previously enlisted in 
the army. The source suspects that the promotions were given 
to members of the private militia of Aden Robleh Awaleh, 
president of the National Democratic Party (PND). Reportedly, 
when PND joined the ruling coalition UMP, Guelleh and Awaleh 
struck a deal to integrate and promote members of Awaleh's 
militia after attending the Hol Hol military academy. The 
decree granting the 14 promotions was not issued from the 
headquarters of the Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) and sources 
suspect that the decree came from the Military Cabinet of the 
Presidency. 
 
5. (C) Comment continued: Rumors are floating around town 
that the president and vice-president of PPSD have been given 
new SUV's by the government. Speculation on the reason for 
this gift points to the government sweetening the deal to 
keep the party in the coalition. This theory has some merit 
as both the president and vice-president of PPSD were said to 
be very upset by Guelleh's statements at the RPP congress in 
October (see reftel). End Comment. 
RAGSDALE