*African President Who Was Handpicked by His Uncle and Has Ruled for 27 Years*


The President of Djibouti, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, has ruled the country for 27 years after being handpicked by his uncle, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, Djibouti’s founding president.

When Aptidon, who led Djibouti from independence in 1977, decided to step down in 1999, he backed his nephew Guelleh as his successor. Before becoming president, Guelleh had served in his uncle’s government, including heading the country’s security services and serving as his Chief of Staff for 22 years, where he gained considerable influence.

With the support of the ruling People's Rally for Progress (RPP) party, Guelleh contested the April 1999 presidential election and won, succeeding his uncle in May that year.

Since taking office, Guelleh has remained in power through successive elections. In 2010, Djibouti amended its constitution to remove presidential term limits, allowing him to seek further terms. He went on to win the 2011, 2016 and 2021 elections — the last one with 97% of the vote.

In October 2025, lawmakers approved another controversial amendment. Djibouti's parliament voted unanimously to lift the presidential age limit of 75 years, clearing the way for the 77-year-old leader to run for a sixth term in April 2026. 8551

Speaker Dileita Mohamed Dileita defended the move, saying it was necessary to ensure "the stability of the small country, in a troubled region, the Horn of Africa", while rights groups warned it prepares a "life presidency." 8551

Djibouti, with just about one million people, remains strategically vital — hosting military bases for the US, France, China, Japan and Italy on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

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