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Remembering the Massacre of Arhiba in Djibouti (AHRO)

Monday, 17 December 2007

Press Release,

December 18, 2007

The Afar Human Rights Organisation (AHRO) would like to draw public attention to a massacre that took place 18^th December 1991 but still haunts the residents of Arhiba neighbourhood in Djibouti. Arhiba is a part of Djibouti city predominantly inhabited by the Afars.

In early morning of December 18 Arhiba was besieged and awakened by incredible sound of machine guns. A coordinated military operation by regiments of the National Army, National Security Force, Gendarmerie and the Marine of Djibouti rounded up and massacred innocent civilians cold-bloodedly and indiscriminately while sleeping. The raid was carried out during the early morning in an ordinary day on the part of Arhiba popularly known as "Arhiba-two". Since then no justification or investigation made public regarding such inhuman but approved state act.

More than 50 persons were assassinated including a police man who tried to avert the massacre. Over 100 were injured together with children and elderly. Additionally, hundreds were displaced and houses in the neighbourhood were demolished. Consequently, many were left without shelter, without economic compensation for the material damage, lost lives, and disabilities encountered.

The situation in Djibouti in general and in Arhiba in particular continue to deteriorate, while Arhiba remains as a ghetto which still lack basic national services such as water, electricity, and sanitary drainage due to sever policy by the current government of Djibouti. This indicates gross human right violations, social injustice and the government remain more suppressive and authoritarian in Djibouti.

The Afar Human Rights Organisations call upon international community to consider the human rights situation in Djibouti!

We call upon AU, France, EU, and the Arab League to investigate the inhuman condition in the Djibouti neighbourhood of Arhiba!

We call upon Human Rights Organisations to bring about those who massacred the civilians in Arhiba to justice!

Afar Human Rights Organisation (AHRO)

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