By Asma Mohamud - Reporter
Djibouti, July 13 2026– Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh on Monday extended condolences to Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the government, people and ruling family following the death of former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
In a statement issued by the Djiboutian presidency on Sunday, Guelleh described the late emir as a statesman who played a central role in Qatar's modern transformation, economic development and rising regional and international influence.
The president said Sheikh Hamad's death would be felt deeply in Djibouti, noting that relations between the two countries had expanded significantly during his time in office.
Guelleh said the former emir helped strengthen cooperation and friendship between Djibouti and Qatar, laying the foundations for closer bilateral ties that continue under the current leadership.
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He also expressed sympathy to the Qatari leadership and people, praying for Sheikh Hamad's soul and reaffirming Djibouti's solidarity with Qatar during its period of mourning.
Sheikh Hamad died at the age of 74. He ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013, overseeing a period of rapid economic growth driven by the country's natural gas industry and expanding Qatar's diplomatic and investment presence on the global stage.
In 2013, he voluntarily handed power to his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, then aged 33, in a rare and peaceful transfer of power among the Gulf's hereditary monarchies. The succession was widely viewed as a landmark moment in the region's modern political history.