1958 French Somaliland constitutional referendum

Politics of Djibouti


Member State of the Arab League
Constitution Human rights
Executive President Ismail Omar Guelleh Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed Ministries and ministers
Legislature National Assembly Speaker: Mohamed Ali Houmed
Elections Recent elections Presidential: 2016 2021 Parliamentary: 2018 2023 Political parties
Administrative divisions Regions Sub-prefectures
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Mahamoud Ali Youssouf Diplomatic missions of / in Djibouti Passport Visa requirements Visa policy
Africa portal Politics portal Other countries
v t e

A referendum on the new constitution of France was held in French Somaliland on 28 September 1958 as part of a wider referendum held across the French Union. The new constitution would see the country become part of the new French Community if accepted, or result in independence if rejected. It was approved by 75.24% of voters.

Results

The referendum result was in favour of a continued association with France; 75% voted "yes", while 25% were opposed. This was partly due to a combined "yes" vote by the sizable Afar ethnic group and resident Europeans. There were also allegations of widespread vote rigging. According to the UN, there was an inordinate number of invalid ballots in Somali districts, which it suggested implied that the plebiscite had been manipulated. The majority of those who had voted "no" were Somalis who were strongly in favour of joining a united Somalia, as had been proposed by Mahmoud Harbi, then Vice President of the Government Council.


Choice	Votes	%
For	8,662	75.24
Against	2,851	24.76
Total	11,513	100.00

Valid votes	11,513	99.40
Invalid/blank votes	70	0.60
Total votes	11,583	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	15,914	72.78
Source: Direct Democracy

References

Frankreich, 28. September 1958 : Verfassung Direct Democracy
Djibouti - History Archived 2011-09-03 at the Wayback Machine Africa Travelling
^ Lowell Barrington (2006) After Independence: Making and Protecting the Nation in Postcolonial and Postcommunist States, University of Michigan Press, p. 115
Report. United Nations, General Assembly. 1967. p. 21. Retrieved 18 December 2014.

v t e Elections and referendums in Djibouti
Presidential elections	1981 1987 1993 1999 2005 2011 2016 2021 2026
Parliamentary elections	1946 1950 1952 1955 1957 1958 1963 1968 1973 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2003 2008 2013 2018 2023
Local elections	2006 2010 2012 2017 2022
French elections	1945 1946 (Jun) 1946 (Nov) 1951 1956 1959 1962 1967 1968 1973
Referendums	1945 1946 (May) 1946 (Oct) 1958 1967 1977 1992

Categories: