Djibouti’s parliament has unanimously voted to remove the presidential age limit, clearing a key legal hurdle that could allow President Ismail Omar Guelleh (IOG) to seek a sixth term in office.
The amendment, passed on Sunday, October 26, 2025, eliminates the constitutional provision that barred candidates aged over 75 from contesting the presidency. The decision was supported by all 65 members of parliament present, according to Speaker Dileita Mohamed Dileita.
President Guelleh, who has ruled the strategically located Horn of Africa nation since 1999, would have been ineligible to run in the April 2026 election under the previous law, as he is now 77 years old.
Under the country’s legislative process, the president can either ratify the amendment or call a national referendum. If approved, parliament is expected to confirm the decision in a second vote on November 2.
Speaking earlier this year to The Africa Report, Guelleh hinted that he might consider extending his rule, saying:
“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.”
Observers say the move was widely anticipated. Sonia le Gouriellec, a Horn of Africa analyst at France’s Catholic University of Lille, noted that while there has been some online criticism, opposition voices remain largely restricted within Djibouti’s tightly controlled political environment.
Parliament Speaker Dileita defended the constitutional change, arguing it was essential to maintain “stability in a troubled region”, pointing to ongoing unrest in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. He added that “more than 80 percent of the population supports the amendment.”
President Guelleh was last re-elected in April 2021 with more than 97 percent of the vote, underlining his firm grip on power. His ruling coalition, the Union for the Presidential Majority (UMP), dominates the legislature and the country’s political landscape.
Guelleh first rose to power in 1999, succeeding Hassan Gouled Aptidon, the founding president of Djibouti, after serving as his chief of staff for over two decades.
Despite its small population of around one million, Djibouti wields significant geopolitical influence due to its location at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. The nation hosts military bases for the United States, France, and China, underscoring its importance in global trade and regional security.
If Guelleh decides to run again, the 2026 election could further extend his more than 25-year rule, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
