By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Djibouti, 14 April 2026 - Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh pledged Monday to pursue stability, unity, and continuity after winning a sixth term in last Friday’s presidential election.
In a televised address to the nation, Guelleh, 78, described his landslide victory as a mandate to continue the development of the Djibouti nation, which hosts major military bases for the United States, China, and France.
"The Djiboutian people have chosen stability, unity and continuity in progress," Guelleh said, adding that he accepted the results with a "deep sense of duty."
Official results from the April 10 vote showed Guelleh winning with a dominant majority, a result he claimed provided "undisputed force and legitimacy" to his administration.
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Guelleh, who has been in power since 1999, framed the win not as a personal achievement but as a "victory of an entire people" focused on peace and economic growth.
"Together we will continue the work undertaken and strengthen what we have acquired," he said. "We will face the challenges with courage and together we will continue to build a stronger, more united and more ambitious Djibouti."
Under Guelleh’s leadership, Djibouti has utilized its geographic position at the entrance to the Red Sea to become a global shipping and military hub.
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