Djibouti’s National Assembly voted on Saturday to amend the constitution and abolish the presidential age limit, a move that effectively allows President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh to seek another term in office.
The amendment, which passed with an overwhelming majority, eliminates the previous rule that barred candidates over the age of 75 from contesting the presidency. Lawmakers loyal to Guelleh argued that the change was necessary to maintain political stability and continuity in the small but strategically important Horn of Africa nation.
Opposition groups, however, denounced the vote as a “constitutional coup” designed to entrench Guelleh’s rule. They accused the ruling People’s Rally for Progress (RPP) party of dismantling democratic safeguards and silencing dissent.
Guelleh, who has been in power since 1999, has not yet announced whether he will run in the 2026 presidential election, but the parliamentary decision paves the way for his potential re-election bid.
Djibouti, home to key foreign military bases including those of the United States, China, and France, holds a critical position along one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes. Analysts say the decision to remove term and age restrictions could draw international criticism but is unlikely to face strong domestic resistance given the government’s tight control over political space.