Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh has won re-election with 97.8% of the vote, securing his sixth term in office, according to preliminary official results reported by multiple sources including BBC and Reuters.
Key Takeaways
Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh won a sixth term with 97.8% of the vote, according to preliminary results. His sole challenger received just 2.19%, and opposition parties largely boycotted the election.
- Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh secured 97.8% in presidential elections
- Opposition candidate Mohamed Farah Samatar received only 2.19% of votes
- Most major opposition parties boycotted the elections, citing lack of free political activity
- Voter turnout was reported at over 80%, with results pending validation by judges on the constitutional council
The 78-year-old president faced only one challenger, Mohamed Farah Samatar, who received just 2.19% of the vote. The election was boycotted by most opposition parties, which have not participated since 2016 due to claims of lack of free political activity.
The results are still pending validation by judges on the constitutional council before Guelleh can be sworn in for another five-year term. Voter turnout was reported at over 80%, with more than 256,000 registered voters casting their ballots according to state-run media.
The election comes after a constitutional amendment last year removed the upper age limit of 75 for presidential candidates, allowing Guelleh to run again. In power since 1999, Guelleh had previously promised to step down but changed his stance following the amendment according to Al Jazeera.
Djibouti's strategic location on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait makes it a critical gateway for global trade routes and hosts military bases from several countries including the US, China, France, Italy, and Japan. Guelleh has maintained stability in Djibouti while neighboring regions have faced conflict according to BBC.
Human rights groups have accused the government of repressing political opponents and activists, allegations that the government denies according to Reuters. The country's main opposition parties have boycotted elections since 2016, citing a lack of impartiality in election authorities per Al Jazeera.
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