Djibouti’s President Ismael Omar Guelleh has secured re-election with 97.8% of the vote, state-owned Radio Television Djibouti reported on Saturday, extending his nearly three-decade rule over the strategically important East African nation.

Guelleh, who has been in power since 1999, posted an image of himself on social media with the French word “RÉÉLU,” meaning “re-elected,” following the announcement.

The Horn of Africa nation, with a population of under one million, sits at the entrance to the Red Sea on the Gulf of Aden and hosts military bases for several global powers, including the United States, China, France, Italy, and Japan. In recent years, it has also served as a docking point for commercial ships damaged in Houthi attacks in the region.

The election outcome was widely expected, as the 78-year-old leader continues to dominate the political landscape. Guelleh was selected in 1999 to succeed his uncle, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, and his party maintains strong control over national institutions.

Last year, Djibouti’s parliament removed the presidential age limit of 75 and abolished the requirement for referendums to approve constitutional changes, paving the way for Guelleh to run again.

In Friday’s vote, he faced only one challenger, Mohamed Farah Samatar, a little-known opposition figure from a small party with no parliamentary representation. Two major opposition groups boycotted the election, accusing the authorities of lacking impartiality.

State media reported a voter turnout of 80.4%. In the previous 2021 election, Guelleh also won with more than 97% of the vote.

Despite political criticism, Djibouti has remained relatively stable compared to other Horn of Africa nations, with the government investing heavily in port infrastructure that has turned the country into a key gateway for landlocked Ethiopia.

However, human rights organisations continue to accuse the government of restricting political freedoms and suppressing dissent, including activists and journalists—allegations the authorities deny.

In 2020, security forces dispersed rare anti-government protests that erupted following the arrest of a former air force pilot who had accused officials of corruption and clan-based discrimination.