Djibouti’s President Guelleh Secures Sixth Term with 97.8% Victory

Djibouti’s President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh has been declared winner of the country’s presidential election with 97.8% of the vote, according to state-owned Radio Television Djibouti, extending his 27-year rule in the strategically located Horn of Africa nation.

The result secures a sixth term for the 78-year-old leader, who was first selected to succeed his uncle, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, in 1999.

Guelleh posted a celebratory message on social media featuring the French word “RÉÉLU,” meaning “re-elected,” shortly after the announcement.

The election outcome was widely expected, as opposition participation was minimal.

Only one minor candidate, Mohamed Farah Samatar, contested against him, while major opposition parties boycotted the poll, continuing a trend that began in 2016 over concerns about electoral fairness and institutional bias.

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Official figures from state media indicated an 80.4% voter turnout.

In the previous 2021 election, Guelleh also won with more than 97% of the vote, underscoring the dominance of his ruling party over national institutions.

Djibouti remains a key geopolitical hub due to its location at the entrance of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, hosting military bases from several global powers including the United States, China, France, Italy, and Japan.

The country has also become strategically important amid ongoing instability in the wider Horn of Africa region.

While the government maintains that elections are legitimate and stable, international human rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns over political freedoms, restrictions on dissent, and the treatment of opposition figures.

Authorities deny allegations of widespread abuses.

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The latest victory further cements Guelleh’s long-standing hold on power in one of Africa’s most strategically significant states.

Polity Reporters will continue to follow political developments in Djibouti and the wider Horn of Africa.

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