Djibouti parliament scraps presidential age limit, clearing path for Ismail Omar Guelleh’s sixth term
The final approval on Sunday formalised last week’s parliamentary decision to abolish the rule that barred anyone over 75 from contesting the presidency.
Djibouti’s parliament has officially ratified a constitutional amendment removing the presidential age limit, confirming an earlier vote and paving the way for 77-year-old President Ismail Omar Guelleh to seek a sixth term in 2026.
The final approval on Sunday formalised last week’s parliamentary decision to abolish the rule that barred anyone over 75 from contesting the presidency.
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According to members of parliament, the amendment was necessary to preserve “stability” in the Horn of Africa nation, which borders Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea.
“The National Assembly ratified the removal of the age limit today, so it is official,” Parliament Speaker Dileita Mohamed Dileita told AFP.
Guelleh, who has ruled Djibouti since 1999, has not confirmed whether he will run again. However, in a statement earlier this year, he said his decision would depend on what he believes is best for the country—fueling speculation that he may be preparing to extend his long stay in power.
“All I can tell you is that I love my country too much to embark on an irresponsible adventure and be the cause of divisions,” he told The Africa Report.
Djibouti’s strategic location at the mouth of the Red Sea has made it a key base for several global military powers, including the United States, France and China.
Despite its population of just over one million, the country holds outsized influence due to its control over one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.
A longtime ally of Djibouti’s founding president, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, Guelleh rose to prominence as his chief of staff before succeeding him in 1999. His ruling coalition, the Union for the Presidential Majority, dominates parliament and has helped him maintain a firm grip on the nation’s politics.
Guelleh secured a fifth term in 2021 with more than 97 per cent of the vote, amid criticism from opposition groups and human rights organisations over restrictions on political freedoms.
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