Djibouti’s long-serving President, Ismail Omar Guelleh, who has held power since 1999, is set to run for a sixth term in next year’s presidential election, political sources told AFP.
This follows a parliamentary decision to remove the constitutional age limit that had previously barred him from seeking re-election.
The Horn of Africa nation, though small, is considered stable in a turbulent region and operates a key port hosting military bases for the United States, France, China, Japan, and Italy.
“He has agreed to be a candidate in next year’s presidential election, everything went smoothly,” said Dileita Mohamed Dileita, President of the National Assembly, speaking to AFP after a congress of the ruling People’s Rally for Progress.
Guelleh’s decision was confirmed by another participant at the congress, who spoke on condition of anonymity, though the presidency has not officially announced his candidacy.
The 77-year-old president joins a growing list of ageing African leaders seeking to extend their time in office, including 92-year-old Paul Biya in Cameroon and 83-year-old Alassane Ouattara in the Ivory Coast. His re-election is widely seen as a foregone conclusion.
In the 2021 election, Guelleh secured 97 percent of the vote, while his coalition, the Union for the Presidential Majority, maintains a parliamentary majority. However, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) has described these elections as “not free.”
The decision comes less than a week after Parliament removed the 75-year age limit for presidential candidates from the Constitution.
Previously, in 2010, the Constitution had already been amended to eliminate the two-term restriction.
Djibouti frequently faces criticism from human rights groups for cracking down on dissent.
The country is ranked 168th out of 180 in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, which noted that “the media landscape is completely controlled and limited almost exclusively to state media.”
– ‘Everything is perfect’ –
Guelleh, who succeeded Hassan Gouled Aptidon, the father of Djibouti’s independence, in 1999 after 22 years as his chief of staff, had already hinted at the possibility of a sixth term in an interview with Africa Report in May.
“All I can tell you is that I love my country too much to embark on an irresponsible adventure and be the cause of divisions,” he said when asked about his candidacy.
Addressing persistent rumours about his health, Guelleh admitted he “probably” needed to “lose a few pounds.” He added, “Otherwise, everything is perfect.”
With a population of around one million, Djibouti occupies a strategic position along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on the Red Sea, an important trade corridor.
