US EditionDjibouti holds presidential election with longtime ruler favored for a sixth term
Guelleh faces one challenger as observers say the vote offers little competition and could extend his 27-year rule.
- Voters in Djibouti cast ballots on Friday, with 78-year-old President Ismail Omar Guelleh expected to secure a sixth term after lawmakers scrapped presidential age limits last year.
- Since 1999, Guelleh has ruled the nation of about 1 million, transforming it into an international military hub strategically located on the Bab al-Mandab strait.
- Critics described the vote as a "masquerade" with a "foregone conclusion," while Guelleh faces only one challenger, Mohamed Farah Samatar, in a race opposition groups frequently boycott.
- Mohamed Husein Gaas of the Raad Peace Research Institute said external actors prioritize stability given Djibouti's critical role in Red Sea security and global trade routes.
- Rising debt and geopolitical competition pose long-term risks, while the economy's reliance on port services for Ethiopia and military base revenues remains vulnerable to global shipping instability.
134 Articles
134 Articles
Djibouti's Guelleh Extends 27-Year Rule With Landslide Re-Election Win
Djibouti's long-serving president, Ismael Omar Guelleh, has secured another term in office after winning 97.8 percent of the vote, according to state broadcaster Radio Television Djibouti. The result grants him a sixth mandate and extends a rule that has now spanned 27 years in the strategically important East African nation.
Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh was re-elected, without surprise, at 97.81 per cent of the vote for a sixth term, according to the full official presidential results published on Saturday 11 April.
By hosting foreign military bases in its strategically located territory, "IOG", President since 1999, provides its regime with a financial, security and diplomatic pension.
The Express Tribune
The Straits TimesDjibouti president wins election with 97.8% of vote, state media says
Djibouti's President Ismael Omar Guelleh has won re-election with 97.8% of the vote, state-owned Radio Television Djibouti said on Saturday, handing him a sixth term that extends his 27-year rule over the small but strategically located East African country. Guelleh posted an image of himself with the French word "RÉÉLU" on X, which translates to "re-elected". Résultat des élections présidentielles du 10 avril 2026 pic.twitter.com/YcpabHo80h — I…
Djibouti's Guelleh Secures Sixth Term Amidst Controversy
Djibouti's Guelleh Secures Sixth Term Amidst Controversy Djibouti's President Ismael Omar Guelleh has been re-elected with an overwhelming 97.8% of the votes, extending his rule to a sixth term, state-owned Radio Television Djibouti announced on Saturday. The election was characterized by the absence of major opposition parties, who have criticized the election process.Guelleh's rule, which began in 1999 when he succeeded his uncle Hassan Gouled…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 42% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
