Djibouti Parliament Approves Lifting of Presidential Age Limit, Clearing Path for Guelleh Sixth Term

 

Djibouti’s parliament has unanimously voted to remove the presidential age limit, paving the way for 77-year-old President Ismail Omar Guelleh to seek a sixth term in the April 2026 election. Guelleh, widely known as IOG, has led the Horn of Africa nation since 1999.

Despite its small population of around one million, Djibouti holds significant strategic importance as a major port and host to military bases for the United States, France, and China.

Currently, the Djiboutian constitution prohibits a head of state from running for office after the age of 75, which would have prevented Guelleh from contesting the upcoming election. However, an amendment to remove this age restriction was supported by all 65 parliamentarians present, according to parliamentary speaker Dileita Mohamed Dileita. The constitutional change now awaits the president’s approval or the possibility of a referendum. If approved, parliament is expected to confirm the amendment in a second vote on 2 November.

A Predictable Move

Earlier this year, Guelleh indicated in an interview with The Africa Report that he was open to serving another five-year term. “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.

Sonia le Gouriellec, a Horn of Africa specialist at the Catholic University of Lille, commented that the vote was “not a surprise,” noting that opposition voices in Djibouti have limited space to operate. The country has a poor record on freedom of expression and press freedom.

Dileita argued that the constitutional amendment is crucial for ensuring “the stability of this small country in a troubled region, the Horn of Africa, with Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea nearby.” He further claimed that “more than 80 percent of the population supports this measure.”

Guelleh’s Dominance

In the 2021 election, Guelleh secured a landslide victory, winning over 97 percent of the vote. His party, the Union for the Presidential Majority, continues to hold a parliamentary majority.

Guelleh succeeded Djibouti’s first president, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, in 1999 after serving as his chief of staff for 22 years. Despite its small size, Djibouti plays a disproportionately important strategic role. Located at the mouth of the Red Sea opposite Yemen, the country controls access through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key global trade route between Asia and the West.

Djibouti also hosts the only permanent U.S. military base in Africa, with approximately 4,000 personnel supporting anti-terrorism operations in the region, particularly in Somalia.

Source: modernghana