By Abukar Osman - Reporter
Djibouti, 7 January 2026 President Ismail Omar Guelleh on Tuesday swore in three new members to Djibouti’s Constitutional Council, expanding the judicial body as the country prepares for a presidential election in April.
The move follows a recent constitutional reform that increased the number of seats on the Council from six to nine. The new appointees include former minister Ali Farah Assoweh, former ambassador to Kenya, Mariam Ahmed Goumaneh, and lawyer Bilan Mohamed Ali.
"You are the guardians of the Constitution, the highest legal standard in Djibouti," Guelleh said during the induction ceremony at the republic's palace. He urged the new members to uphold the rule of law with "the greatest vigilance, demand, and rigor."
The expansion of the Council comes during a period of significant institutional change. In late 2025, Djibouti's parliament approved amendments that abolished the presidential age limit of 75, clearing the way for the 78-year-old Guelleh—who has been in power since 1999—to seek a sixth term.
The Constitutional Council plays a pivotal role in the electoral process, including the validation of candidate eligibility and the certification of final results.
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Minister of Justice Ali Hassan Bahdon and other senior presidency officials attended the ceremony.
Guelleh’s ruling Popular Rally for Progress (RPP) party officially nominated him as its candidate in November. While the government maintains the reforms are necessary for regional stability, opposition groups have criticized the changes as a move toward a life presidency.
