Djibouti holds presidential election with incumbent seeking re-election

Djibouti Presidential Election Set to Take Place on Friday

Voters in Djibouti are scheduled to cast their ballots for the country’s next president on Friday, with incumbent leader Ismail Omar Guelleh expected to secure a sixth term. The election comes after politicians last year scrapped presidential age limits, allowing Guelleh to compete despite being 78 years old.

A total of 256,000 eligible voters will participate in the election, which pits Guelleh against Mohamed Farah Samatar, leader of the Unified Democratic Centre (CDU). Guelleh is also the founder of the CDU party. The election is expected to take place at city hall, where only a few voters had arrived when polling stations opened.

The government has denied allegations made by human rights groups that authorities are engaging in abuses and repressing freedom of political activity. Two opposition parties have boycotted elections since 2016. Polling stations will close at 6pm local time (15:00GMT), with provisional results expected shortly after or by Saturday morning.

International organizations, including the African Union, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and League of Arab States, are observing the voting process. Guelleh has been in power since 1999, when he succeeded Hassan Gouled Aptidon as president. He won re-election in 2021 with 98% of the vote.

Guelleh’s campaign focused on maintaining stability in a region marked by instability. The country hosts several important military bases for foreign powers and is an essential port hub for landlocked neighbors such as Ethiopia.

Source: Al Jazeera