Djibouti Installs Electoral Commission Paving Way for April Presidential Vote

By Asho Elmi - Reporter

Djibouti, 13 January 2026 – Members of Djibouti's Independent National Electoral Commission were sworn in on Monday, marking a formal step toward presidential elections in April where veteran leader Ismaïl Omar Guelleh will seek a sixth term.

The ceremony at the People's Palace in the capital saw 21 commissioners from across the Horn of Africa nation take an oath of impartiality before the President of the Constitutional Council, Abdi Ismael Hersi.

The event was attended by senior officials including Secretary General of the Ministry of the Interior, Souleiman Moumin Roble. The inauguration officially opens the operational phase for the April 10 vote.

The electoral body, which operates as a non-permanent body activated for election cycles, is composed of three government appointees, three members from the National Assembly, three magistrates, and representatives from civil society and political parties. Each of Djibouti’s five interior regions also maintains a sub-commission of eight members to oversee local polling.

More from Djibouti

Somalia Cancelled UAE Agreements to Protect Sovereignty, says President

Somalia Clarifies Annulment of UAE Deals Doesn't Mean Cutting Diplomatic Ties

The election follows a constitutional amendment passed by parliament in October 2025 that scrapped the 75-year age limit for presidential candidates.

The move cleared the final legal hurdle for Guelleh, 78, who has been in power since 1999, to run again despite previously suggesting he would step down.

Authorities said the establishment of the commission aims to strengthen the credibility of the democratic process. However, Djibouti's opposition has historically boycotted elections, citing a lack of independence in the electoral body and a restricted political environment.

Guelleh, one of Africa's longest-serving leaders, won his fifth term in 2021 with more than 98 percent of the vote. His government has leveraged Djibouti's strategic location at the mouth of the Red Sea to host multiple foreign military bases, including those of the United States, China, and France.

Discover more Djibouti updates

BBC Moves to Dismiss Trump’s $10 Billion Lawsuit Over Edited Jan. 6 Documentary