Djibouti map showing human rights situation
Country Profile

Djibouti

Djibouti remains the most closed states in the sub-region, ranking amongst the world's worst violators of press freedom. Additionally, HRDs face increased risks of reprisals for engaging with regional and international human rights mechanisms.

Human Rights Situation in Djibouti

Press Freedom Violations

Djibouti ranks amongst the world's worst violators of press freedom, with severe restrictions on media

HRD Reprisals

Human Rights Defenders face increased risks of reprisals for engaging with regional and international human rights mechanisms

Travel Restrictions

HRD Kadar Abdi Ibrahim has been unable to leave the country since 2018 after being deprived of his passport

Djibouti remains the most closed states in the sub-region, ranking amongst the world's worst violators of press freedom. Additionally, HRDs face increased risks of reprisals for engaging with regional and international human rights mechanisms.

Six years on, Djiboutian HRD, Kadar Abdi Ibrahim, who was deprived of his passport following advocacy he conducted in Geneva in April 2018, remains unable to leave the country. In March 2024, Kadar Abdi Ibrahim called for an end to state-sponsored reprisals against him, in an oral statement delivered on behalf of DefendDefenders.

The information is based on our latest bi-annual report that can be found under our reports.

Relevant News

Call for Applications: Training of Trainers in Digital safety & Physical Security management
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Call for Applications: Training of Trainers in Digital safety & Physical Security management

15 June 2022

Call for applications for human rights defenders from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia and Djibouti to join the TOT program 2022.

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ACHPR65: Human Rights Situation in Africa (April – October 2019)
DJIBOUTI

ACHPR65: Human Rights Situation in Africa (April – October 2019)

24 October 2019

In its bi-annual report to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR), DefendDefenders (the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project)

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ACHPR63: Updates from the East and Horn of Africa (April 2018 – October 2018)
DJIBOUTI

ACHPR63: Updates from the East and Horn of Africa (April 2018 – October 2018)

24 October 2018

In its bi-annual report to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, DefendDefenders provides a six-month overview of events affecting the rights to freedom

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