Guelleh, Challenger Samatar Cast Votes as Djibouti Holds Presidential Election

Addis Ababa, April 10, 2026 (ENA) —Djibouti’s presidential election is underway, with incumbent President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh and his main challenger Mohamed Farah Samatar casting their ballots early in the capital as citizens across the country head to polling stations.

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.

Both leading candidates voted in their designated stations in Djibouti City, marking a symbolic start to a decisive election day.

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.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, 256,467 voters are registered nationwide, including more than 162,000 in the capital alone.

 

Voting is taking place across 712 polling stations, with 413 located in Djibouti City, reflecting the country’s concentrated urban electorate.

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.