Djibouti’s ruling party nominates President Guelleh for 2026 election

The Rassemblement Populaire pour le Progrès (RPP) has officially nominated President Ismail Omar Guelleh as its candidate for the upcoming presidential election scheduled for April 2026. The announcement was made on Saturday during an extraordinary party congress held at the Palais du Peuple in Djibouti City.

Speaking at the congress, Guelleh said he had listened to calls from party members urging him to continue leading. “From the people, there rises a clamor, some calling for progress, others entrusting me with responsibility,” he said. “Whatever my personal feelings may be, I do not have the right to say that I have stepped aside.”

The RPP Secretary General, Ilyas Dawaleh, who also serves as Minister of Finance, said the country needed experienced leadership during these turbulent times. “This period requires stability and someone who leads with a firm and steady hand,” Dawaleh said.

The endorsement follows a constitutional amendment passed in October removing the maximum age limit for presidential candidates, allowing the 77-year-old Guelleh to seek another term. The National Assembly, dominated by the ruling party, voted unanimously to scrap the rule that barred candidates over 75.

Critics said the timing of the amendment was politically motivated and designed to extend Guelleh’s time in power. Opposition groups and civil society organizations said the change undermined the credibility of the country’s institutions and further limited political competition.

Former presidential adviser Alexis Mohamed Gueldon, once a close ally of Guelleh, criticized the nomination in a post on X, calling it a “self-proclamation” and describing the RPP congress as “an empty shell.”

Guelleh has been in power since 1999, when he succeeded his uncle, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, Djibouti’s first president. He has since won five consecutive elections — in 1999, 2005, 2011, 2016, and 2021 — often amid opposition boycotts and allegations of irregularities.

Under his leadership, Djibouti has positioned itself as a strategic hub on the Red Sea, hosting several foreign military bases and attracting investment in ports and logistics. Supporters credit him with maintaining stability and promoting growth, while rights groups accuse his government of restricting political freedoms and limiting media space.

With the RPP’s endorsement, Guelleh is widely expected to win the 2026 election, which would extend his rule for a sixth consecutive term, further solidifying his position as one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.