Djibouti is voting for its president on Friday, with incumbent Ismael Omar Guelleh widely expected to win a sixth consecutive term. The 78-year-old has been in power for 27 years, and parliament removed age limits last year to allow him to run again.
Critics view the election as lacking genuine competition, with Guelleh facing only one weak opposition candidate. However, supporters credit him with bringing stability to the strategically important Horn of Africa nation, located between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Previous election results in 2021 showed Guelleh winning almost 99% of the vote. Voters are currently casting their ballots to determine the country’s next presidential term.