Djibouti President Successfully Re-elected, Embarks on 6th Term to Continue Long Rule

Guelleh announced on social media that he had "successfully won re-election." Preliminary results released today show him leading his largely unknown opponent by an overwhelming margin. Guelleh has ruled the small country of 1 million people with an iron fist for 27 years. He has leveraged Djibouti's key strategic location to establish the country as an international military and maritime hub, thus building his reputation. Within Djibouti's 23,000 square kilometers of territory, military bases and troops from France, the United States, China, Japan, and Italy are stationed, generating substantial financial, security, and political benefits. According to the vote count released by the electoral commission, with approximately 6% of the ballots counted, Agence France-Presse statistics show Guelleh's approval rating exceeding 96%, firmly setting him on the path to extending his term. Mohamed Farah Samatar, leader of the "Unified Democratic Centre" party, garnered only about 3.5% of the votes, and this party has no seats in parliament. In the previous election in 2021, Guelleh won with over 97% of the vote, as most opposition parties boycotted. He had announced his intention to step down this year, but a constitutional amendment in November last year abolished the age limit of 75 for presidential candidates. Since succeeding Djibouti's first president, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, in 1999, Guelleh has faced almost no significant opposition. He previously served as Aptidon's chief of staff. While some consider his candidacy to bring "stability" to the volatile Horn of Africa region, analysts point out that this is mainly due to the lack of a successor acceptable to all parties. (Compiled by: Li Peishan) 1150411