Djibouti’s Ismaïl Omar Guelleh Wins Sixth Term with 97.8% of the Vote

Official results from Djibouti’s presidential election show that Ismaïl Omar Guelleh has secured approximately 97.8% of the votes, winning a sixth consecutive term in power. The results, published by Djibouti’s state news agency, confirm his decisive victory in Friday’s vote.

Guelleh’s sole opponent, Mohamed Farah, received around 2.19% of the vote. Reports indicate that nearly 256,000 people registered to participate in the election, with voter turnout estimated at about 80%.

Ismaïl Omar Guelleh has led the East African Horn nation since 1999. Following the announcement of preliminary results, he wrote on his X social media account, “Re-elected once again.”

Despite the overwhelming victory, some human rights groups in recent years have accused Djibouti’s government of restricting freedom of expression and political activities. Government officials deny these allegations, emphasizing that the electoral processes are conducted according to the law.