Djibouti's Parliament to Finalize Vote on Removing Presidential Age Limit
Lawmakers unanimously approve constitutional amendment, paving the way for President Ismail Omar Guelleh to run for a sixth term.
Djibouti’s parliament will hold a final vote on November 2 to remove the age limit for presidential candidates, according to its speaker.
This move allows President Ismail Omar Guelleh, who is currently 77 years old and has been in power since 1999, to potentially run for another term.
The tiny Horn of Africa nation, strategically located by the Red Sea and home to U.S., French, and Chinese military bases, has seen its lawmakers unanimously approve a constitutional amendment to lift the age restriction during a first vote.
The change will need final approval on November 2, setting the stage for President Guelleh's potential candidacy in the upcoming elections scheduled for April 2026.
Speaker Dileita Mohamed Dileita expressed confidence, stating that there won't be any issues with the support, including from the opposition parties.
Despite Djibouti’s poor record on freedom of expression and press freedom, the speaker emphasized that this constitutional change aims to ensure stability in the small but strategically important country situated in a turbulent region encompassing Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea.
President Guelleh secured his last election victory with 97% of the votes in 2021.
His party, the Union for the Presidential Majority, holds the majority of seats in parliament.
Guelleh has been leading Djibouti since succeeding its first president, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, who was the country’s leader at independence in 1999.
Despite its small population of approximately one million, Djibouti plays a significant role due to its strategic location near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on the Red Sea.
This move allows President Ismail Omar Guelleh, who is currently 77 years old and has been in power since 1999, to potentially run for another term.
The tiny Horn of Africa nation, strategically located by the Red Sea and home to U.S., French, and Chinese military bases, has seen its lawmakers unanimously approve a constitutional amendment to lift the age restriction during a first vote.
The change will need final approval on November 2, setting the stage for President Guelleh's potential candidacy in the upcoming elections scheduled for April 2026.
Speaker Dileita Mohamed Dileita expressed confidence, stating that there won't be any issues with the support, including from the opposition parties.
Despite Djibouti’s poor record on freedom of expression and press freedom, the speaker emphasized that this constitutional change aims to ensure stability in the small but strategically important country situated in a turbulent region encompassing Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea.
President Guelleh secured his last election victory with 97% of the votes in 2021.
His party, the Union for the Presidential Majority, holds the majority of seats in parliament.
Guelleh has been leading Djibouti since succeeding its first president, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, who was the country’s leader at independence in 1999.
Despite its small population of approximately one million, Djibouti plays a significant role due to its strategic location near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on the Red Sea.
