Ali Mohamed Daoud, also known as Jean-Marie[1] [2] (born 28 August 1950[3]), is a Djiboutian politician and the President of the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD). He is currently a member of the National Assembly of Djibouti.
Daoud is a member of the Afar ethnic group.[4] FRUD, fighting on behalf of Afar interests, began a rebellion against the Issa-dominated government in 1991. Daoud led the moderate faction of FRUD in signing a peace agreement with the government in December 1994. As a result of the agreement,[5] he joined the government (together with one other FRUD member, Secretary-General Ougouré Kiflé Ahmed[6] [7]) as Minister of Public Health and Social Affairs on 8 June 1995.[3] [6] Daoud's faction of FRUD also allied with the governing People's Rally for Progress (RPP).[5] On 15 - 16 April 1997, FRUD held its First Congress; Daoud, who was already FRUD President, remained in that position at the congress.[4] Daoud was elected to the National Assembly in the December 1997 parliamentary election[3] as the first candidate on the joint candidate list of the RPP and FRUD for Tadjourah Region.[8]
Daoud was moved from his post as Minister of Public Health and Social Affairs to that of Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and the Sea on 12 May 1999;[9] he was also assigned responsibility for hydraulic resources.[3] After holding that post for two years, he was omitted from the government that was appointed on 4 July 2001.[10] FRUD held its Second Ordinary Congress on 28 - 29 April 2002, and Daoud was re-elected as FRUD President.[11]
Daoud was re-elected in the January 2003 parliamentary election[3] as the first candidate on the candidate list of the ruling coalition, the Union for a Presidential Majority (UMP), in Tadjourah Region.[12] In this election, the other, more radical wing of FRUD, led by Ahmed Dini Ahmed, participated in the election as part of the opposition; Daoud criticized Ahmed as a "perpetual loser".[13]
President Ismail Omar Guelleh awarded the medal of the Commander of the Great Star of Djibouti to Daoud and Ougouré Kiflé Ahmed during independence day celebrations on 27 June 2004.[14] At FRUD's Third Congress, held on 30 - 31 May 2007, Daoud was re-elected as President of FRUD by acclamation, without opposition.[15] He was again re-elected to the National Assembly in the February 2008 parliamentary election as the second candidate on the UMP's candidate list for the city of Djibouti.[16]