Djibouti's Ismaïl Omar Guelleh reelected for sixth term

Djibouti President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh has been reelected for a sixth term, winning 97.81% of the vote in Friday's election.

Guelleh, 78, has ruled the small Horn of Africa nation for over two decades.

He faced a single challenger, Mohamed Farah Samatar, a former ruling party member.

Analysts say the race offered little genuine competition.

Opposition groups often boycott elections, citing restrictions on political freedoms.

Djibouti hosts multiple foreign military bases, including those of the U.S., China, France and Japan, underscoring its strategic importance along a key global shipping route linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.