politics
April 14, 2026
Djiboutian president wins sixth term with 97.81% vote
Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh has won reelection with 97.81% of the vote, extending his rule and securing a sixth term in office
TL;DR
- Ismail Omar Guelleh has won reelection for a sixth term as President of Djibouti with 97.81% of the vote.
- Guelleh has been in power since 1999 and his eligibility for a sixth term was enabled by the removal of the presidential age limit.
- His sole challenger, Mohamed Farah Samatar, received 2.19% of the vote with a turnout exceeding 80%.
- Opposition groups have previously boycotted elections, citing a lack of transparency and a tilted playing field.
- Regional observers from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, African Union, and others deemed the electoral process peaceful.
- Djibouti's economy relies heavily on port services and revenue from foreign military bases.
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