Djibouti defends jailing of airforce pilot officer, accuses opposition of organising protests

DJIBOUTI - The recent protests over-incarceration of an airforce pilot officer in Djibouti were organized by the opposition, authorities said, adding that the jailing of Fouad Youssouf was "justified" and that it's within the "law".

For the better part of last week, protestors thronged into the streets of Djibouti, accusing the government of violation of "human rights" after the video of Ali in what looked like washrooms emerged on social media.

But in a statement on Friday, Djibouti accused "cycles" within the opposition of "spreading untruthful accusations", adding that reports on deteriorating conditions of the former Air Force officer in Gabode Civil prison were "baseless rumors".

The republic of Djibouti added the state from the presidency, "formally contests these versions circulating on social media and foreign publications". Ali has been in prison since April 12 after his extradition from Ethiopia according to reports.

But despite the pressure to have him secure freedom, Djibouti insisted that he's being charged formally, backing the charges pressed on him by the state prosecutor as "necessary" just like in any sovereign state.

Among others, the former Air Force pilot is accused of attempting to steal a military aircraft, destroying the aircraft, maintaining foreign relations with Eritrea, publishing violent statements inciting hatred, jeopardizing national defense, and defaming Djibouti armed forces.

These allegations, the state said, "are extremely serious acts that undermine national security and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law by any state in the world." The charges were formally issued on March 20 according to the statement.

At that time, the pilot's family said, he had fled to Ethiopia where he formally applied for asylum. Unfortunately, the request had not been granted by Addis Ababa by the time he was repatriated around April 12 this year.

For now, the statement added, Ali will face trial in a civilian court since Djibouti does not have court-martials. In other parts of the world, he would have faced the military court by the virtue of having been a serving military officer.

According to the authorities, Ali's rights were upheld and that restriction for visiting was imposed due to raging Coronavirus pandemic. However, it added, his wife, sister, an MP, and a Human Rights group, had been allowed to access him in prison.

The government also dispelled claims that his health has been at stake, arguing that the prison department did check on him. The administration accused him of recording a video clip to create a "false" impression to the public that he was indeed being mistreated.

But in a statement last week, Attorney General Jama Suleyman, who is also the government legal advisor, accused Youssouf of committing "treason". Youssouf, he said, "tried" to fly a plane to an "enemy country", Eritrea in March this year.

Without delving into many details, Jama said the ex-military man fled to their neighboring Ethiopia, where he tried to apply for asylum but had not been granted. On April 20, he added, the pilot was extradited to Djibouti by the authorities in Addis Ababa.

Zakariya Abdillahi, who has been acting as his lawyer, demanded the release of his client on bail, arguing that he deserves a "fair" trial in compliance with the country's laws. The detainee, he told Voix de Djibouti, had right to his legal team on May 13, when he was allowed to visit.

“That was the first time and the last I saw him,” he said, at the same time questioning the time of arrest in Ethiopia, which he insists that was "improperly documented" based on the first account details from his client.

Existing details according to him show that the pilot was arrested in Ethiopia on April 12 and extradited the same day, contrary to the government's claim. At the time of arrest, he noted, the pilot had not been granted asylum by Addis Ababa.

Mumin Ahmed Sheikh, Djibouti's Interior minister had termed last week's demonstrations "unlawful" in a social media post and warned of possible arrests and prosecution of the "inciting" others to demonstrate.

Without disclosing what the ex-military officer committed, the minister also insisted that the government will protect businesses and innocent civilians from "public disorder", adding that it will also ensure the law is followed.

"A detainee can complain about the conditions of his detention. His lawyer is intervening at the moment through proper regulations," he said in reference to conditions of the detained officer, whose incarceration sparked protests.

Djibouti has been at loggerheads with Eritrea for slightly over a decade now. AU peacekeepers had been in place since 2010 as part of efforts to resolve a dispute over the status of Dumeira Mountain and Dumeira Island, claimed by both Djibouti and Eritrea.

The tiny Dumeira Island lies just off the coast of the two countries, at the southern end of the Red Sea. It is close to the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, an important shipping lane for global commerce. Despite efforts to reconcile the two nations, their relationship is still fragile.

GAROWE ONLINE