Ismaïl Omar Guelleh Re-elected Djibouti President

Ismaïl Omar Guelleh has been re-elected as president of Djibouti for a sixth consecutive term, securing 97.8% of the vote in an election largely boycotted by opposition parties. This extends his 27-year rule over the strategically important Horn of Africa nation. The election followed a constitutional amendment in November that removed the 75-year age limit for presidential candidates, allowing the 78-year-old Ismaïl Omar Guelleh to run again. His sole challenger was Mohamed Farah Samatar, who received 2.19% of the vote. Djibouti's stability under Ismaïl Omar Guelleh's leadership is often cited as a key factor, especially given its location on the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a vital shipping route. The country hosts military bases for several nations, including the United States, China, France, Japan, and Italy, and serves as a crucial maritime gateway for landlocked Ethiopia. Despite the perceived stability, human rights groups like the Djibouti League of Human Rights have criticized the electoral process, and the country faces challenges such as high youth unemployment and significant national debt, largely to China.