Trending Now - Djibouti's Guelleh Secures Historic Sixth Presidential Term
WHO:
BBC News - Ismail Omar Guelleh, 78, is the President of Djibouti.
Al Jazeera - Mohamed Farah Samatar is Guelleh's sole opponent in the election.
WHAT:
BBC News - Guelleh's victory still requires validation by judges on the constitutional council before he can be sworn in for another five-year term.
Al Jazeera - Guelleh's most recent victory in 2021 saw him take 98% of the votes.
BBC News - Guelleh has extended his rule to 27 years following this election.
ABC News World - Guelleh's victory was confirmed by official results published by Djibouti’s state-run news agency.
Al Jazeera - Guelleh stated, “By the grace of God, we have arrived here, and we hope that this will end in victory,” as he voted at Djibouti’s City Hall.
ABC News World - Guelleh has been reelected for a sixth term, winning 97.81% of the vote in the election held on April 8th, 2026.
Al Jazeera - Samatar earned just 2.19% of the votes.
Al Jazeera - Voter turnout was 80.4% in the election.
Al Jazeera - Approximately 256,000 people were registered to vote in Djibouti.
WHERE:
Al Jazeera - The election took place in Djibouti, a country located in the Horn of Africa.
Al Jazeera - Djibouti is strategically located at the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
WHEN:
BBC News - The election results were released on April 8th, 2026, but still need validation by judges on the constitutional council before Guelleh can be sworn in for another five-year term.
ABC News World - The presidential election was held on April 8th, 2026.
Al Jazeera - Polls were originally scheduled to close at 6 PM local time but remained open for an additional hour due to delays.
WHY:
Al Jazeera - Politicians removed presidential age limits last year, allowing Guelleh to seek another five years in power.
Al Jazeera - Two of the country’s main opposition parties have boycotted elections since 2016 after Guelleh eliminated term limits in 2010.
HOW:
Al Jazeera - Samatar's Unified Democratic Centre (CDU) opposition party has no seats in parliament.
Al Jazeera - Guelleh claimed victory via a post on X as early results arrived.
Al Jazeera - Guelleh's campaign featured extensive rallies and posters throughout the capital, while Samatar's campaign struggled for recognition.
(UPDATED April 12, 2026 03:59 UTC)
President Guelleh's recent election victory is pending validation by judges on the constitutional council before he can officially begin another five-year term. In the 2021 election, Guelleh secured an overwhelming 98% of the votes, despite the fact that the opposition party, Samatar's Unified Democratic Centre, holds no seats in parliament. This situation highlights the significant challenges faced by opposition parties in the current political landscape.
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(UPDATED April 11, 2026 17:06 UTC)
President Ismail Guelleh has extended his rule to 27 years following his recent election victory, which was confirmed by official results published by Djibouti’s state-run news agency. Guelleh expressed his gratitude, stating, “By the grace of God, we have arrived here, and we hope that this will end in victory,” as he cast his vote at Djibouti’s City Hall. While the election results were released on Wednesday, they still require validation by judges on the constitutional council before Guelleh can be sworn in for another five-year term.
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(UPDATED April 11, 2026 11:09 UTC)
Ismail Omar Guelleh has been reelected as the President of Djibouti, securing an impressive 97.81% of the vote in the election held on Wednesday, where his sole opponent, Mohamed Farah Samatar, received just 2.19%. Voter turnout was notable at 80.4%, with approximately 256,000 registered voters participating in the election, which was extended by an hour due to delays. Guelleh's victory was announced via a post on X, and his campaign was marked by extensive rallies and posters throughout the capital, contrasting with Samatar's struggle for visibility.