Ismail Omar Guelleh has been in power in Djibouti since 1999. Following the amendment to the constitution, he can now run for a sixth term, announces Parliament Speaker Dileita Mohamed Dileita.
The next elections will be held in April 2026 and Guelleh is not expected to face much opposition as the country has very limited freedom of speech and press.
Guelleh is 77 years old. Previously, the law had stated that no one over the age of 75 could run for president.
He won the last election in 2021 with 97 percent of the vote. Opposition and human rights groups protested against restrictions on democratic freedoms and rights during the election campaign.
