Djibouti votes as President Guelleh seeks sixth term amid criticism
Djibouti heads to the polls on Friday in a presidential election widely expected to return long-time leader Ismail Omar Guelleh for a sixth term in office.
Ballot papers and voting materials were distributed across the country on Thursday ahead of the vote, which takes place in the strategically important Horn of Africa nation.
Guelleh, 78, has ruled Djibouti since 1999 and is facing only a single low-profile challenger whose party holds no parliamentary seats. His leadership has been characterised by critics as tightly controlled, while supporters credit him with maintaining stability in a volatile region.
Djibouti’s location on the Bab al-Mandab strait has made it a key geopolitical hub. The country hosts multiple foreign military bases, including the only permanent US military installation in Africa, as well as France’s largest base on the continent. Forces from China, Japan, and Italy are also stationed in the country, highlighting its global strategic importance.
Over the years, Guelleh has positioned himself as a guarantor of security and economic stability, attracting international investment and military partnerships.
However, human rights organisations have repeatedly accused his government of restricting political freedoms, limiting press independence, and suppressing dissent. Critics have described the election as lacking genuine competition, with some calling it a “foregone conclusion.”
As voting begins, the outcome appears largely predetermined, but the election remains significant for assessing Djibouti’s political direction and its role in global military and trade strategy.
