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afrol News, 10 January - Djibouti is organising multi-party parliamentary elections in midst of the heaviest drought that has struck the small country at Africa's Horn for years. Eight parties are contesting for the 65 seats in the Djibouti legislative, in a poll that so far has been observed as the most democratic in the country's history. The opposition has a real chance to take control over the legislative as voters are given the option between two political blocs. Ex-Prime Minister and ex-rebel leader Ahmed Dini Ahmed heads the opposition bloc, composed of four parties. The opposition bloc has is best chances in the rural areas dominated by the Afar people, which stood by Mr Ahmed in his 1990s' insurgency against the ruling party, dominated by the Issa people. The ruling party, on the other hand, is given even better chances to maintain power, together with three other parties forming the Union Presidential Majority (UMP). Current Prime Minister Deleita Mohamed Deleita heads this alliance, which is expected to win a majority in the capital, Djibouti. More than half of Parliament's seats origin from constituencies in the capital. The 2003 poll marks Djibouti's transition into a true multi-party democracy, as it was approved by the government in September last year. Four years after independence, in 1981, Djibouti was made a one-party state. Since 1992, however, a limited multiparty system has prevailed, although the elections system has helped the ruling party win all seats in parliament - so also in the last poll, in 1997. The election campaigns have focused on economy and on the US and German military presence in the country. The opposition promises "changes" in the economic policy to address the current crisis, while PM Deleita promises "adhesion to the political project that is implemented by President Ismaël Omar Guelleh." The issue of greatest dispute is however the use of Djibouti soil to launch attacks against Iraq. The opposition says Djibouti should not host US forces, while the ruling party has admitted US and German troops to be stationed in the country.
The primacy of drought Pastoral areas in Djibouti, south-eastern Eritrea, western Somaliland and the Afar Region in Ethiopia have remained dry during the last rainy seasons, resulting in zero vegetation cover in the sub-region. Livestock are dying and are reports of widespread distress sales of weakened, lower-value animals. Drinking water is becoming scarce. The World Food Programme (WPF) in December resumed general food distribution to nomadic drought victims in remote areas and in the suburbs of Djibouti City. The UN agency today reports it has "distributed over 975 tons of food to some 14,900 families, representing 74,625 beneficiaries" since December. Vegetable oil was distributed to schoolgirls in the refugee camps as take-home rations to encourage school attendance. Also, some 20,000 refugees living in Djibouti were receiving food aid. The heavy drought, which threatens to claim millions of lives in the Horn, however does not affect Djibouti as much as neighbouring Ethiopia and Eritrea, although Djibouti is within the area hardest hit by lack of rainfall. While Djibouti has remained relatively stable and calm during the last years, war and other political disruptions have made Ethiopians and Eritreans more vulnerable to the drought. Additionally, Djibouti is closer to food imports and aid; most food transports to landlocked Ethiopia go through the Djibouti harbour. Sources: Based on UMP, Djibouti govt, press reports, WFP and afrol archives
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