Djibouti has announced a new 26-member government following the re-election of President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, with women securing several key ministerial positions in the reshuffled cabinet. The appointments were confirmed through a presidential decree issued on Sunday, marking the first cabinet formation since Guelleh won another term in the April 2026 presidential election. Several senior officials retained strategic portfolios in the new administration. Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh remained Minister of Economy and Finance, while Abdoulkader Houssein Omar was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and will also serve as government spokesperson. Hassan Omar Bourhan kept his role as Defence Minister, while Omar Abdi Said was named Interior Minister. The new cabinet includes eight women, reflecting stronger female representation in government. Mouna Osman Aden was appointed Minister of Health, while Hana Farah Assoweh took charge of the Ministry of Women and Family Affairs.
Other female appointees include Ouloufa Ismail Abdo as Minister of Social Affairs and Solidarity, Amina Abdi Aden at Urbanism and Housing, Fardoussa Moussa Egueh at Youth and Culture, Safia Mohamed Ali Gadileh at Digital Economy and Innovation, and Mariam Hamadou Ali as Minister for Investments and Private Sector Development. Fatouma Ali Abdallah was also appointed Secretary of State for Sports. Guelleh secured re-election on April 10 under the ruling Union for the Presidential Majority coalition, winning 97.81 percent of the vote against opposition candidate Mohamed Farah Samatar of the Unified Democratic Centre, who received 2.19 percent. The 78-year-old president has ruled Djibouti since 1999 and extended his time in office after constitutional reforms removed the presidential age limit, allowing him to seek another mandate. Analysts say the new cabinet is expected to focus on economic reforms, infrastructure development and strengthening Djibouti’s position as a strategic trade and logistics hub in the Horn of Africa.
