Ismail Omar Guelleh has secured victory in Djibouti’s latest presidential election, celebrating the outcome at his residence and describing it as a triumph for the entire nation.
Preliminary results released by the interior ministry indicate a strong showing for the incumbent, continuing his long-standing hold on power. Officials also reported that more than 80% of registered voters took part in Friday’s election, signalling significant voter participation.
Guelleh’s main challenger, Youssouf Moussa Dawaleh Samatar, represented a smaller political party with no seats in parliament. As of now, he has not publicly responded to the announced results.
Despite the declaration, the outcome is not yet final. It must be formally reviewed and validated by the Constitutional Council of Djibouti before Guelleh can be sworn in for a new five-year term in office.
The veteran leader, who has governed Djibouti since 1999, also won the 2021 presidential election by a similarly wide margin. His continued leadership has been shaped by a series of constitutional reforms over the years.
In 2010, Djibouti’s parliament abolished presidential term limits, allowing incumbents to run indefinitely, while also reducing the length of each term from six years to five. An age cap of 75 for presidential candidates was later introduced but subsequently revised in November, clearing the way for Guelleh to contest the latest election.
With validation pending, Guelleh is set to extend his decades-long tenure, further cementing his influence on the country’s political landscape.
