DJIBOUTI CITY — Djibouti’s long-serving president, Ismail Omar Guelleh, held his final campaign rally on Wednesday ahead of Friday’s presidential election, positioning himself as a unifying figure in a country where opposition voices remain largely muted.
Addressing a large and enthusiastic crowd, the 78-year-old leader called for national cohesion. “For the country to move forward, we must be united. All of you, regardless of your party or organisation, the essential thing is that we are Djiboutians, brothers and sisters, united,” he said.
Guelleh, who has been in power since 1999, is widely expected to secure another term, potentially extending his rule to over three decades. He has consistently portrayed himself as a guarantor of stability in the volatile Horn of Africa, contrasting Djibouti’s relative calm with ongoing conflicts in neighboring countries such as Somalia and Ethiopia.
Supporters at the rally echoed this sentiment. “We have other countries, Ethiopia, Somalia — there’s war. But in our country, there is unity. I love our president,” said Adburaman Hassan.
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Under Guelleh’s leadership, Djibouti has leveraged its strategic position along the Bab al-Mandab strait to become a key global military and maritime hub. The country hosts the only permanent U.S. military base in Africa, as well as France’s largest base on the continent. China, Japan, and Italy also maintain a military presence there.
However, Guelleh’s long tenure has drawn criticism from opposition groups and international rights organizations, who accuse his government of suppressing dissent and restricting press freedom. Critics have labeled the upcoming vote a “masquerade,” arguing that the outcome is all but predetermined.
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Questions have also emerged about Guelleh’s health, raising uncertainty over whether he would be able to complete another term in office.
Despite these concerns, Guelleh remains the clear frontrunner as Djiboutians prepare to cast their votes on Friday in an election that could further cement his legacy.
