Djibouti’s long-serving president Ismail Omar Guelleh has secured a sixth term in office after winning 97.8% of the vote in a presidential election largely boycotted by opposition parties, according to preliminary results released by the interior ministry. His only challenger, Mohamed Farah Samatar, received just 2.19% of the vote in the poll, which officials said drew more than 80% voter turnout. The results are pending final validation by the constitutional council before Guelleh is officially sworn in for another five-year term. At 78, Guelleh has now ruled Djibouti for 27 years, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. Although he had previously indicated plans to step down, a constitutional amendment in November removed the upper age limit of 75 for presidential candidates, allowing him to run again.
The election was marked by the absence of major opposition figures, including Dahir Ahmed Farah, whose parties have boycotted elections since 2016, citing restrictions on political freedoms and lack of fair competition. Guelleh’s campaign centered on his record of maintaining stability in Djibouti, a country located along the strategically vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serves as a key gateway to the Suez Canal, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. Djibouti’s geopolitical importance has attracted multiple foreign military bases, including those operated by the United States, China, France, Italy, and Japan, making it a crucial hub for global security and trade operations.
Guelleh is only the second president of Djibouti since its independence from France in 1977. Constitutional changes over the years, including the removal of term limits in 2010 have enabled him to extend his rule, with similar landslide victories recorded in previous elections, including in 2021. While the government has framed the outcome as a reflection of national unity and stability, critics argue that the lack of political competition continues to raise concerns about the state of democracy in the country.
