Requirement to hold a hearing

ARTICLE 77 OF THE CONSTITUION OF DJIBOUTI OF 15^THSEPTEMBER 1992 (ARTICLE 77 DE LA CONSTITUTION DJIBOUTI-15 SEPTEMBRE 1992 :

?The Constitutional Council takes over in case of contests overthe validity of an election by all candidates and all political parties.

(Le Conseil constitutionnel est saisi en cas de contestation surla validit? d'une ?lection par tout candidat et tout parti politique.)

ARTICLE 69Djibouti Electoral Law of 2002-Organic Law no.1/AN/92 on the elections ofOctober 29, 1992 amended by Organic Laws no.2/AN/93/3^rd L of April7, 1993 and no.11/AN/02/4^th L of August 14, 2002/Djibouti LoiElectorale-2002- Loi organique n? 1/ AN /92 relative aux ?lections du 29octobre 1992 modifi?e par la Loi Organique n? 2 /AN/93/3?me L du7 avril 1993 et par la Loi Organique n? 11/AN/02/4?me L du 14 ao?t 2002  -

Litigation of all elections is in the jurisdiction of the ConstitutionalCouncil.

 (Le contentieux de toutes les ?lections rel?ve de la comp?tence duconseil constitutionnel. )

Whilearticle 77 of the constitution and article 69 of the Electoral laws of Djiboutido not expressly state that there shall be hearing and a reasoned decisiondelivered, it is our opinion that by saying all litigation on electoral mattersare the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Council, it is automatic that thereshall be a hearing whose end result shall be a well-reasoned decision becausethat is what usually happens in litigation matters.