Djibouti has had two presidents since the country became a republic in 1977. The first president was Hassan Gouled Aptidon, who took office on June 27, 1977, when Djibouti declared its independence.
He was a leader of the Ligue Populaire Africaine pour l’Indépendance (LPAI). The current president is Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, who has been in office since 1999.
The president of Djibouti is the head of state and government and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Initially, the president had a two-term limit, but this was removed in 2010.
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Complete List Of Presidents Of Djibouti From 1977 Till Date
No. | Name | Took Office | Left Office | Political Party (Coalition) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hassan Gouled Aptidon | 27 June 1977 | 8 May 1999 | RPP |
2 | Ismaïl Omar Guelleh | 8 May 1999 | Incumbent | RPP (UMP) |
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Who Was The First President Of Djibouti?
Hassan Gouled Aptidon was the first president of Djibouti, serving from June 27, 1977, to May 8, 1999. Aptidon was born on October 15, 1916, in Garissa, near the port of Zeila in French Somaliland.
At the age of 14, he moved to Djibouti City, where he was taken in by Catholic missionaries. He later worked as a street trader and contractor, before starting his political career when he joined the Somali and Danakil Youth Club, which later influenced his political career.
Aptidon became prominent in French Somaliland’s political space. He served as a senator in the French National Assembly from 1959 to 1962.
He was also involved in several political movements that called for independence, and his hard work eventually helped Djibouti gain independence in 1977.
When Djibouti became independent, Aptidon was elected as the first president. During his time as president, he maintained strong ties with France, both diplomatically and militarily.
His leadership faced challenges, like pressure between the Issa and Afar communities. To manage these tensions, he set up a one-party system in 1981, under the People’s Rally for Progress (RPP), which kept opposition parties from having a voice.
He was re-elected without opposition in 1981 and 1987, but his government faced growing problems in the early 1990s when an Afar rebellion broke out.
The rebellion led to unrest and a civil war that lasted until a peace agreement was signed in 2001. Facing internal pressure for reform, Aptidon allowed a referendum in 1992 to introduce multiparty politics, though his party remained dominant.
In the late 1990s, Aptidon’s health began to fail, and he sought medical treatment abroad. In 1999, he decided not to run for re-election, and his nephew, Ismail Omar Guelleh, took over as president.
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Who Is The Current President Of Djibouti?
The current President of Djibouti is Ismaïl Omar Guelleh. He has been in power since May 8, 1999, making his presidency one of the longest in Africa.
Guelleh has been re-elected multiple times, and his most recent re-election took place in April 2021, winning over 98% of the votes.
However, this election was largely boycotted by opposition parties, who claimed there were irregularities in the voting process. Guelleh was born on November 27, 1947.
He is the nephew of Djibouti’s first president, Hassan Gouled Aptidon. Guelleh started his political career in the late 1970s and worked in different government roles, including head of the national police and Minister of the Interior.
When his uncle, President Aptidon, retired, Guelleh became the country’s leader. Since becoming president, Guelleh has been elected several times, with his re-election in 2005, 2011, 2016, and 2021.
However, his rule has faced criticism. Many say he runs an authoritarian government, and opposition parties often accuse him of using unfair methods to stay in power.
In 2010, a change in the law removed the term limit for the president, which means he can remain president as long as he continues to win elections.
Guelleh has strengthened Djibouti’s economy, making the most of the country’s strategic location. Djibouti is an important port city, and Guelleh has used this to attract foreign investments and trade.
He has also brought peace to the region and maintained stability in Djibouti and surrounding countries. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Guelleh made vaccinations mandatory for all citizens in 2021.
While Guelleh has managed to keep Djibouti stable, questions about who will lead the country in the future have started to surface. There are discussions about potential successors, but the situation is complicated by internal power struggles.
