Djibouti voters head to polls as President Guelleh widely expected to win

Djibouti — Voters in Djibouti are set to head to the polls on Friday in a presidential election widely expected to extend the long rule of incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh. 

More than 200,000 people have registered to vote in the Horn of Africa nation, where only two candidates are competing. The ruling Rally for the People’s Progress (RPP) is forecast to secure the majority of votes, according to analysts.

Guelleh, who has been in power since 1999, has historically won elections by large margins. He secured about 74 percent of the vote in 1999, more than 90 percent in 2005, around 80 percent in 2011, and about 86 percent in 2016. In the most recent election in 2021, he won roughly 98 percent of ballots cast.

The vote is expected to take place in a calm atmosphere, with no significant opposition groups raising concerns over the conduct of the election or indicating they would reject the outcome.

The election is being organized by Djibouti’s interior ministry, while international observers are present in the country to monitor the process. Officials say voting has historically proceeded peacefully, without delays or extensions, and daily life has typically continued uninterrupted — a contrast with election-related disruptions seen in some other African countries.

GAROWE ONLINE