Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh has formally announced that he will seek a sixth term in office in the country’s 2026 election, just days after lawmakers approved constitutional changes allowing him to remain in the race beyond the previous maximum age of 75.
Guelleh, 77, made the declaration during his ruling party’s national congress in Djibouti City, reinforcing his position as one of Africa’s longest-serving presidents. He has ruled since 1999, after constitutional amendments in 2010 removed the two-term cap. His ruling coalition controls parliament, opposition activity is heavily restricted, and in his last election he was declared the winner with roughly 97 percent of the vote — making his re-election in 2026 widely expected.
In his speech, Guelleh framed his candidacy as necessary to protect “unity and development,” arguing that Djibouti must maintain continuity at a time of regional instability and shifting geopolitical rivalries in the Horn of Africa. Djibouti’s location on the Bab el-Mandeb — the chokepoint between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden — has made the country a critical military and commercial hub. Multiple global powers, including the U.S., France, China, Japan and Italy operate military bases on Djiboutian soil, paying significant annual fees and giving the small nation of one million an outsized role in global security and shipping.
Critics say dominance by Guelleh and his inner circle has come at the expense of basic political freedoms. Opposition leaders face regular arrests or intimidation, independent media is effectively non-existent and several international rights organisations rank Djibouti among the lowest globally on press freedom. Reporters Without Borders places Djibouti at 168 out of 180 countries in its 2025 index, calling the media environment “almost entirely state-controlled.”
Guelleh is the political heir to Djibouti’s founding president, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, whom he served for two decades before taking power. Rumors about his health have circulated for years, but Guelleh has repeatedly dismissed them, recently telling The Africa Report that his condition is “perfect,” aside from “needing to lose a few pounds.”
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Source:Africa Publicity
