Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh cast his vote on Friday in the country’s presidential election, expressing confidence in the outcome as polling continued nationwide, state media reported.
Voting began at dawn across the Red Sea nation, with polling stations opening nationwide and voters steadily turning out in what officials described as a highly organized electoral process.
Guelleh, who is seeking another term in office, voted in the capital alongside his wife Kadra Mahamoud Haid at a polling station in Djibouti District.
Speaking to the press after voting, Guelleh said he was confident about the results of the election and expected strong public support for his candidacy.
“I have no doubt that the voting operations will proceed as always in order and calm throughout our territory,” he said, adding that the election would contribute to national cohesion.
More than 256,000 voters are registered to participate in the election, which pits Guelleh against opposition candidate Mohamed Farah Samatar.
A total of 67 international observers have been deployed to monitor the vote, representing major regional and international bodies including the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the League of Arab States, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
The African Union mission, the largest of the group, is led by Bernard Makuza, while the IGAD delegation is headed by former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome.
The election is seen as a pivotal moment for Djibouti, with President Guelleh seeking a sixth term under the ruling Union for the Presidential Majority (UMP).
He faces opposition candidates from groups including the Unified Democratic Center (CDU) and the Union for Democracy and Justice (UDJ), in a contest analysts describe as both high-stakes and closely watched.
After weeks of political campaigning marked by rallies, voter outreach, and public debates, the country now enters a critical phase as ballots are cast and attention turns to transparency, turnout, and the credibility of the process.
Guelleh is widely seen as the frontrunner, based on his long tenure and previous election results, according to officials. Preliminary results are expected later on Friday night into Saturday, election authorities said.
