Djibouti President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh secured a sixth term in office after winning 97.81% of the vote in Friday's presidential election, according to official results announced by state media.

Guelleh, 78, has led the small Horn of Africa nation of approximately 1 million people for more than two decades. Last year, the country's parliament removed presidential age limits, clearing the way for his continued candidacy.

The election featured only one challenger, Mohamed Farah Samatar, a former ruling party member. Opposition groups frequently boycott elections in Djibouti, citing restrictions on political freedoms. Election officials reported that the voting process was peaceful.

Guelleh first took power in 1999, succeeding his uncle, former President Hassan Gouled Aptidon, continuing a family-led political system that has governed the country for decades. Supporters gathered at the presidential palace on Saturday to celebrate the results.

Djibouti holds significant strategic importance due to its location along a key global shipping route connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The country hosts military bases for multiple nations including the United States, China, France, and Japan. Revenue from these military arrangements, combined with port services for landlocked Ethiopia, forms the backbone of Djibouti's economy.