Ismail Omar Guelleh who was ruling Djibouti for two decades was declared the winner in Friday’s presidential election in the tiny horn of Africa nation.
The country’s interior minister, Moumin Ahmed Cheick told the media that Guelleh, 73 was re-elected with 98.58 % of the vote, defeating Zakaria Ismail, an independent and a newcomer candidate.
“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.
President Ismail Omar Guelleh thanked his supporters after the election body declared him the winner, obtaining almost 99 percent of the vote.
“Thank you for your trust, thank you Djibouti. Let’s continue together,” Guelleh said.
The tiny nation which strategically important home to military bases for the United States, China and others, has been under the ruled of Guelleh since 1999.
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, a short distance from war-torn Yemen.
