Guelleh wins elections to lead Djibouti fifth term

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Guelleh wins elections to lead Djibouti fifth term

ARTA (HORN OBSERVER) - Ismail Omar Guelleh will serve for the fifth term as the president of Djibouti, a tiny country in horn of Africa region but strategically important country, after he defeated his challenger.

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ARTA (HORN OBSERVER) - Ismail Omar Guelleh will serve for the fifth term as the president of Djibouti, a tiny country in horn of Africa region but strategically important country, after he defeated his challenger.

According to the country’s interior minister, Moumin Ahmed Cheick, Guelleh received more than 98 percent of the votes, making him one of the longest serving presidents in the region.

"President Ismail Omar Guelleh obtained 167,535 votes, which is 98.58 percent,” Interior Minister told public broadcaster RTD early on Saturday, adding that confirmed results would be released soon by the Constitutional Council.

Thanking his supporters after the election body declared him the winner, President Guelleh urged the people to cooperate.

"Thank you for your trust, thank you Djibouti. Let's continue together," Guelleh said.

Guelleh has been ruling the tiny nation since 1999, a move many of the opposition parties rejected, accusing him of steering the country towards dictatorship.

Guelleh took power after the death of his uncle, Hassan Guled Abtidon, who became the first president of the country in 1977 when Djibouti gained independence from France.

Djibouti is a largely desert country strategically situated on one of the world’s busiest trade routes and at the crossroads between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

The country is hosting foreign forces including US, China, France and Japan.