Results from the April 10, 2026 election showed that Ismail Omar Guelleh won with 97.81% of the vote, defeating his opponent Mohamed Farah Samatar, who received 2.19%.
In a message shared on social media on April 12, 2026, President Kagame expressed appreciation to his Djiboutian counterpart and reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to continued cooperation.
He said, “I will continue to strengthen the good relations between the people of Djibouti and Rwanda, and work closely together to advance our shared goals of development and well-being.”
Ismail Omar Guelleh, aged 78, has now secured his sixth term in office, having first taken power in 1999.
Last year, Djiboutian lawmakers removed the age limit for presidential candidates, allowing him to run again.
Rwanda and Djibouti maintain strong bilateral relations. Through a joint ministerial commission, the two countries regularly meet to explore opportunities for expanding cooperation.
In November 2025, both countries signed nine cooperation agreements in sectors including sports, health, social development, and diplomatic training.
They also have existing agreements covering trade, air transport, technology, investment protection, and visa facilitation for diplomats.
As part of their strong partnership, Djibouti allocated 60 hectares of land to Rwanda some near the port and others in a free trade zone, while Rwanda provided Djibouti with a 10-hectare plot in the Masoro Industrial Zone.
In March 2026, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, met with his Djiboutian counterpart, Abdoulkader Houssein Omar, to discuss further strengthening bilateral ties.
During that visit, Minister Nduhungirehe also met President Guelleh and delivered a special message from President Paul Kagame.
