Djibouti
Djibouti has detailed terrorism legislation in its Criminal Code. The maximum penalty for terrorist offences is life imprisonment.
The Definition of Terrorism in Domestic Law
Acts of terrorism are defined and criminalized in the Criminal Code of Djibouti as follows:
when related to an individual or collective undertaking intended to seriously disturb public order by intimidation or terror, the following offences:
1. Deliberate attacks on life, intentional attacks on integrity of the person, the kidnapping and sequestration as well as the hijacking of aircraft, ship or any other means of transport;
2. Thefts, extortion, vandalism and other destruction, degradation and deterioration, as well as computer offences.Art. 167, Criminal Code of Djibouti.
Also considered acts of terrorism are the following:
when related to an individual or collective undertaking intended to seriously disturb public order by intimidation or terror, the introduction into the atmosphere, on the ground, in the subsoil or in waters, including those of the territorial sea, a substance likely to endanger the health of humans or animals or the natural environment.Art. 168, Criminal Code of Djibouti.
Adherence to Global and Regional Terrorism Treaties
Djibouti is a State Party to all of the main United Nations treaties on terrorism.
| Treaty | Adherence |
|---|---|
| 1973 Convention on Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons | State Party |
| 1979 Hostage-Taking Convention | State Party |
| 1997 Terrorist Bombings Convention | State Party |
| 1999 Terrorist Financing Convention | State Party |
| 2005 Nuclear Terrorism Convention | State Party |
Djibouti is also a State Party to some of the main regional treaties on terrorism.
| Treaty | Adherence |
|---|---|
| 1999 Algiers Convention | State Party |
| 2004 Protocol to the Algiers Convention | Signatory |
| 1998 Arab Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism | State Party |
Laws and Penalties for Terrorist Offences
The maximum penalty for terrorist offences is life imprisonment. The maximum penalty for ordinary criminal offences is increased when they comprise a terrorist component.Art. 169, Criminal Code of Djibouti.Participation in a terrorist group is punishable by up to twenty years in prison.Art. 170, Criminal Code of Djibouti.
In November 2020, the Ministry of Justice issued life sentences to two accomplices in a 2014 suicide-bombing at a popular restaurant. According to the United States Department of State, the government continued to use terrorism legislation to suppress anti-government criticism by arresting opposition figures and other activists.
Counterterrorism Capacities and Policies at Domestic Level
All of Djiboutian law enforcement agencies--the Djiboutian National Police (DNP), the Gendarmerie, the National Security Judiciary Police, and the National Coast Guard--have roles in countering terrorism.
It is reported that the strategically located country is increasingly implicated in regional arms smuggling to militant and terrorist organisations. In 2020, the National Anti-Terrorism Taskforce convened by the Ministry of Justice finalized work on a national Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) strategy.
Glossary
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