Presidential Election in Djibouti: The Face-off Between Guelleh and Samatar at the Polls

On April 10, 2026, polling stations in Djibouti opened at 6 AM, but turnout was low with over 256,000 voters called to choose between Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, in power since 1999, and Mohamed Farah Samatar, representing the Unified Democratic Center. Guelleh, 78, is running again after a 2025 constitutional reform, while Samatar struggles to mobilize his party, which is absent from Parliament. Historical opponents are sidelined, and major opposition parties denounce the election as a farce, calling for a boycott.