Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh is all but certain to win a sixth consecutive presidential term in an election held on Friday, extending his near-three-decade rule over one of Africa’s most strategically vital nations. With his primary opponent a little-known figure from a party with no parliamentary seats, critics say the vote is less an election than a carefully stage-managed ceremony — a “masquerade,” in the words of one human rights leader.
Guelleh, 78, has ruled Djibouti since 1999, when he succeeded his uncle, who had himself ruled the tiny Horn of Africa nation since independence from France in 1977. He is now one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, having weathered regional conflicts, political crises, and mounting international pressure for democratic reform.
One Opponent, No Real Contest
The April 10 election offers Djibouti’s voters a choice between Guelleh and Mohamed Farah Samatar, a former member of the ruling party and head of the Unified Democratic Centre, a party that holds no seats in parliament. The main opposition parties have either been silenced, co-opted, or rendered unable to field meaningful candidates.
“There’s not much at stake. It’s just a token competition,” said Sonia Le Gouriellec, a Horn of Africa expert at Lille Catholic University. “The person who will challenge President Guelleh is a member of a small party subservient to those in power.”
Human Rights Record Under Scrutiny
Djibouti has a well-documented history of suppressing dissenting voices. The country ranks 168th out of 180 in the 2025 press freedom index compiled by Reporters Without Borders, placing it among the worst in the world for media freedom.
Omar Ali Ewado, head of the Djibouti League of Human Rights, was blunt in his assessment of the election. “It is a foregone conclusion,” he told AFP. He called the vote a “masquerade” and said the outcome had been decided long before polling day.
A Strategic Prize
Despite — or perhaps because of — its poor human rights record, Djibouti has become a prized location for foreign military powers. The country is home to France’s largest military base in Africa, where around 1,500 soldiers are stationed. China, Japan, and Italy also maintain troops in the country.
Most significantly, Djibouti hosts Camp Lemonnier, the only permanent US military base on the African continent, with approximately 4,000 personnel. The base supports American counter-terrorism operations across the region, particularly in neighbouring Somalia.
Sources: Africanews, AFP, Djibouti League of Human Rights, Reporters Without Borders 2025 Press Freedom Index.