Djibouti: Djibouti’s long serving president Ismaïl Omar Guelleh has won another term in office after securing about 97.8 percent of the vote in the country’s presidential election, according to state media.
The election was held on April 10, and the results confirmed Guelleh’s continued grip on power. He has been leading Djibouti since 1999 and will now begin his sixth term, extending his rule to nearly three decades.
Guelleh faced only one opponent, Mohamed Farah Samatar, a relatively unknown candidate from a small party with no seats in parliament. Major opposition groups stayed away from the election, continuing a boycott that has been in place for years.
Officials said voter turnout was around 80 percent, though there was no independent confirmation of the figures. Critics and rights groups have again raised concerns about the fairness of the election, pointing to limits on political freedom and the absence of strong opposition participation. The government has rejected these claims.
Recent constitutional changes allowed Guelleh to contest again after the removal of the presidential age limit. At 78, he remains one of Africa’s longest serving leaders.
Djibouti holds strong strategic importance because of its location near the Red Sea, a key global shipping route. The country hosts several foreign military bases and plays an important role in trade, especially as a gateway for neighbouring Ethiopia.
While the election result ensures political continuity in the country, it also renews debate over democratic space and political competition in Djibouti.