Djibouti’s parliament voted unanimously on Sunday to lift the presidential age limit, potentially allowing Ismail Omar Guelleh a sixth term.
Guelleh, known as IOG, has ruled the Horn of Africa nation since 1999, overseeing a strategic port hosting U.S., French, and Chinese bases.
The constitution currently bars presidents over 75 from running, which would have prevented the 77-year-old leader from seeking re-election in April 2026.
All 65 parliamentarians present supported the amendment, Speaker Dileita Mohamed Dileita told AFP, signaling near-total political alignment behind Guelleh’s continuation.
The president may approve the change directly or call a referendum, after which parliament is expected to confirm the decision on November 2.
Guelleh hinted at another term in May, saying he loves his country too much to cause divisions through reckless ambition.
Sonia Le Gouriellec, a Horn of Africa specialist, said the vote was unsurprising but cautioned that opposition voices may struggle to be heard locally.
Omar Ali Ewado of the Djibouti League for Human Rights warned that the amendment risks establishing a “life presidency” and urged a peaceful democratic transition.
Dileita defended the change, citing national stability in a turbulent region bordering Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, claiming broad public support for the amendment.
Guelleh’s last re-election in 2021 saw over 97 percent of the vote, and his party holds a strong parliamentary majority, consolidating his political dominance.
Succeeding Djibouti’s founding president in 1999, Guelleh has maintained tight control over the country of one million, whose port oversees key Red Sea trade routes.
Experts warn that the constitutional revision could further erode freedoms of expression and press in Djibouti, cementing the president’s hold on power.