"In reality, it is an additional mechanism of selection and exclusion, says Mohamed, describing participation in the election as a waste of time and money."
"In a country where the incumbent president is presented, election after election, as winning with figures close to 97%, the real meaning of such a provision is not merely to regulate competition but to lock it down."
"Guelleh, 78, has ruled since 1999 and has pushed through constitutional changes widely seen as tailored to his advantage, first enabling open tenure and later removing the presidential age limit, previously capped at 75."
Alexis Mohamed, a former adviser to Djibouti's president, resigned due to democratic regression. He cannot return to file nomination papers or campaign without security guarantees. High nomination fees in Djibouti and Benin have sparked protests, seen as mechanisms of exclusion. In Djibouti, the fee is refundable only to candidates receiving at least 10% of votes, which is difficult given the incumbent's consistent high win rates. President Guelleh has ruled since 1999, implementing constitutional changes that benefit him, reflecting a broader trend across Africa.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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