Vote counting began in Djibouti on Friday after a presidential election widely expected to grant a sixth term to long-time leader Ismail Omar Guelleh.
The 78-year-old incumbent faces a single, little-known challenger, Mohamed Farah Samatar, in a tightly controlled political landscape shaped by decades of dominant rule.
Guelleh has governed the small Horn of Africa nation for 27 years, consolidating authority while transforming its strategic position into a global military and maritime hub.
Foreign powers including France, the United States, China, Japan and Italy maintain bases there, underscoring Djibouti’s pivotal location along critical international shipping lanes.
A constitutional amendment passed in November removed the presidential age limit, reversing earlier signals that Guelleh would step down and clearing his path to run again.
Polling stations in the capital closed later than scheduled after a delayed start, with officials expecting initial results to emerge later in the evening.
Voter turnout varied across polling sites, with modest participation in civilian areas but significantly higher rates reported among military voters.
On the streets, public sentiment appeared divided between resignation and cautious support, reflecting both fatigue with long-standing rule and limited political alternatives.
Samatar, whose party lacks parliamentary representation, struggled to mobilise visible support, while Guelleh’s campaign dominated public space and media coverage.
In the 2021 election, boycotted by much of the opposition, Guelleh secured more than 97 percent of the vote, reinforcing his entrenched political dominance.
Despite concerns over unemployment affecting much of the youth population, authorities highlight stability in a volatile region as a key achievement of his leadership.
Human rights groups have criticised the electoral process and broader governance, alleging repression of dissent and unequal treatment among ethnic communities.
Positioned near the Bab al-Mandeb strait, Djibouti remains vital to global trade, relying heavily on port revenues and its role as Ethiopia’s primary maritime gateway.
