Djibouti: 50 Djiboutians Arrested in Balbala Crackdown

Djiboutian security forces arrested about 50 supporters of political dissident Guirreh Meidal as they left a mosque in the Balbala suburb of the capital Friday (August 2nd), France's RFI Radio reported.


Meidal has been in police custody since elections were held in Djibouti February 23rd. Women and children were among the detained, according to the Djiboutian League of Human Rights.

All but four were released Saturday, with those still in custody expected to appear in court Tuesday.

Djiboutian League of Human Rights President Zakaria Abdillahi condemned what he called an escalation in government repression of opposition groups.