Djibouti death toll in clashes disputed

A DJIBOUTI opposition group said at least 19 people were killed in clashes with police that began when people were marking a religious celebration, while the government said just nine people were wounded when police fought armed individuals.

The rival accounts made it difficult to determine the cause of the clashes or the number of casualties in them early on Monday in the tiny Horn of Africa nation. It was not immediately possible to secure independent witness reports.

Djibouti, home to a regional port as well as US and French military bases, has faced sporadic violence before, usually sparked by protests against the government of President Ismail Omar Guelleh, whose party has a tight hold on power.

Union pour le Salut National opposition coalition spokesman Kadar Abdi Ibraim said police first attacked people marking a religious celebration that he said had been banned. He said police then attacked a house where opponents were meeting.

He said at least 19 were killed and dozens wounded in the violence in the mainly Muslim nation, which has a population of about 876 000.

Interior Minister Hassan Omar Mohamed said “dozens of armed individuals” launched an attack on security forces in the Buldhoqo area. He said nine people were wounded, including a police officer. He did not identify the other wounded.

Mohamed said the violence was directed against the security forces to “destabilise our nation and sow divisions”, and was stoked by people “who act from abroad”.

In parliamentary polls in 2013, protesters clashed with police saying the results were rigged, a charge the government denied.

In 2011, anti-government demonstrators, who were buoyed by the revolutions then sweeping North Africa, demanded Guelleh step down. The authorities cracked down hard on the opposition.

Guelleh has been in power since 1999 and a new presidential election is scheduled for April next year.

The former French colony’s port has been used by foreign navies patrolling the Gulf of Aden’s shipping lanes.

Chinese officials said in November China was in talks with the government on building logistics facilities to support Chinese peacekeeping and anti-piracy missions. Guelleh had earlier said China was discussing a military base. — Reuters