Djibouti Votes as President Guelleh Seeks Another Term

Djibouti, April 10 2026 Polling stations opened on Friday in Djibouti’s presidential election, with incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh widely favoured against his sole challenger, officials and observers said.

Guelleh has ruled Djibouti since 1999, taking over from the country’s first president after independence from France in 1977.

During his tenure, he is credited by supporters with bringing political stability to a region often marked by instability, while heavily investing in port infrastructure that has turned Djibouti into a strategic maritime hub and a key trade route for landlocked Ethiopia, one of Africa’s most populous countries.

Guelleh has won five previous presidential elections, consistently securing at least 74 per cent of the vote, and more than 97 per cent in the 2021 election, according to official results.

In his recent remarks, Guelleh said his country had succeeded in maintaining peace and stability in a volatile regional environment.