US embassy cable - 05DJIBOUTI725

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000725 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF, AF/E AND DRL; 
LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, PHUM, PREL, DJ 
SUBJECT: DECENTRALIZATION FORUM: FOLLOW-UP WITH PND 
 
REF: A. DJIBOUTI 650 
 
     B. DJIBOUTI 714 
 
Classified By: Pol/Econ Erinn C. Stott for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary: In one of several conversations (reftel B and 
septel to follow) with the participants of the recent forum 
held to discuss decentralization and the special status for 
Djibouti City, Embassy spoke with the Secretary General of 
the National Democratic Party (PND), Mohamed Abdillahi 
Waberi. While the forum was attended by only the parties in 
the government coalition, and one non-aligned, independent 
party, there was a significant and varied debate on several 
of the articles in the proposed law. Waberi appeared to have 
been pleased with the forum, but was much more critical of 
the event than some of the other participants. Waberi said 
the lead time given to parties to study the draft text was 
much too short. He also said some of the parties did not send 
decision makers to the forum, hampering the ability for the 
forum to come to a decision. However, he did state that there 
were more convergence of opinions than confrontations between 
the political parties. End Summary. 
 
2. (C) The July 2-14 Decentralization Forum held in Djibouti 
was a good experience, according to the Secretary General of 
the National Democratic Party (PND), Mohamed Abdillahi 
Waberi. The forum was organized by the Minister of Interior, 
who personally invited all political parties to discuss the 
proposed draft of the Special Statute for Djibouti City. 
Waberi stated his party aimed at discussing its pillar 
principles with the government - freedom of expression, 
judicial independence, decentralization, and a liberal 
economy. He said, in his opinion, the main points of 
contention during the debate on the draft law were the 
nomination of the Mayor of Djibouti City, the functions of 
the Mayor, and the minimum age for being elected to the 
position of Mayor. 
 
3. (C) Waberi indicated that most of the parties in 
attendance had difficulty with the original draft requiring 
the Mayor be nominated by the President of the Republic. The 
preferred manner of selection was by election. In the end the 
consensus decided upon an Mayoral election by the collection 
of Community Councils. Another issue was whether current 
public officials, such as Ministers or Members of Parliament, 
should be eligible for the position of Mayor. The consensus 
was that electing current public officials would not be 
allowed. Some of the participants observed that this could 
hamper the autonomous nature of the management of Djibouti 
City. Regarding the minimum age for a Mayoral candidate, the 
parties preferred to lower the required age from 25, as 
stated in the original draft of the statute, to 23, as 
stipulated in the Djiboutian Constitution for minimum age to 
hold office. 
 
4. (C) Waberi's complaints about the forum included the 
efficacy of other parties' participants and the time given to 
study the draft. He said some of the parties did not send 
decision makers and were not very knowledgeable. This caused 
confusion because the party's representatives kept referring 
to French law, instead of trying to write Djiboutian law. 
Waberi also said the government should have given the parties 
more time in advance of the forum to study the text. 
 
5. (C) Waberi added the government must respect political 
parties and show flexibility to both opposition and majority 
parties. However, he said, the opposition should not refuse 
any attempt at dialogue offered by the government. National 
interest should prevail above all issues between the two 
sides. Waberi also noted that political parties in Djibouti 
are in need to training because, at the moment, they are 
doing as they please instead of acting as professional 
politicians. In his view, a weakness of  parties is that 
their base is often cut off from leadership, with no 
continuity of work. Waberi stated that parties do not call 
upon their members for input or action unless there is an 
election. Capacity building is needed. For Waberi, the next 
step for the decentralization forum is a final consultation 
with the political parties to verify that all amendments 
discussed are included before it is sent to the National 
Assembly for a vote. 
RAGSDALE