Djibouti counts votes as leader seeks sixth term

Lead

Djibouti began counting votes on Friday in a presidential election widely expected to extend the 27-year rule of Ismail Omar Guelleh, who faces only one little-known challenger in the strategically located Horn of Africa nation. The 78-year-old leader, who has dominated the country's politics since 1999, is seeking a sixth term after a constitutional amendment removed the upper age limit for presidential candidates.

Coverage comparison

Reports from Africa News and France 24 (English) all drew on Agence France-Presse (AFP) dispatches, but they differed in timing and emphasis. Two Africa News articles, published before the official results, focused on the voting process and the expected outcome, noting low turnout at several polling stations. A France 24 article, published after the vote, reported that Guelleh had won with 97.8 percent of the vote, according to official results, and described the outcome as a "landslide victory."

All three reports highlighted the lack of serious opposition, with Guelleh facing only Mohamed Farah Samatar, leader of the Unified Democratic Centre (CDU), a party with no seats in parliament. The reports also noted Guelleh's long tenure and the country's economic dependence on its ports.

Key claims

• Expected victory and official result: Two Africa News articles, published before the count was complete, said Guelleh was expected to win a sixth term. France 24 later reported that he had won with 97.8 percent of the vote, citing interior ministry figures. This result has not been independently verified by other sources in the provided material.

• Turnout figures: Reports gave conflicting turnout figures. One Africa News article said turnout remained low throughout the day, with no polling station visited by AFP journalists recording more than 25 percent of registered voters. Another Africa News article said turnout ranged from 36 to 58 percent at several polling stations, but exceeded 90 percent at one station where soldiers were voting. These figures are based on AFP observations and have not been independently confirmed.

• Guelleh's rule and background: All three reports described Guelleh as having ruled the country of about one million people for 27 years "with an iron grip." They noted that he had announced he would step down this year, but a constitutional amendment in November removed the upper age limit of 75 for presidential candidates, allowing him to run again.

• Strategic and economic context: The reports emphasized Djibouti's location on the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a key shipping route, and its role as an international military hub hosting bases for France, the United States, China, Japan, and Italy. They also noted that ports account for 70 percent of the country's gross domestic product, with Ethiopia as its main maritime outlet, and that around 70 percent of young Djiboutians are unemployed. The reports said the country's development has come at the cost of substantial debt, particularly to China.

Perspectives

Guelleh's supporters: The president has drawn thousands to his rallies and has support from some voters. One voter, Deka Aden Mohamed, told AFP she was voting for Guelleh because "he has a good programme for young people," adding that she did not know what his opponent looked like.

Opposition and disaffected voters: Some voters expressed disillusionment. A taxi driver told AFP, "I'm not going to vote, it's pointless. He's been in power for 27 years and the city is dirty." Samatar, the challenger, has struggled to gain support, with the national broadcaster airing one of his rallies that drew only a few dozen people.

International observers: The reports did not include direct comments from international observers, but the emphasis on Djibouti's strategic importance and its hosting of foreign military bases suggests external interest in the country's stability.

Corrections and updates

This article was updated to reflect the official results reported by France 24 after the initial vote-counting reports. The conflicting turnout figures from the two Africa News articles are presented as reported by AFP and have not been reconciled.