Somali President arrives in Djibouti for Guelleh inauguration

Saturday May 9, 2026

Mogadishu (AX) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud landed in Djibouti City on Friday at the head of a Somali delegation, joining regional leaders for the inauguration of Djibouti’s re-elected President, Ismail Omar Guelleh.

At the airport, the Somali president and his delegation were welcomed by Djibouti Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed and other senior officials, a reception that highlighted the long-standing ties and cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

President Hassan Sheikh is among several leaders from the Horn of Africa invited to attend the inauguration ceremony. During his visit, he is also expected to hold meetings with senior Djiboutian officials and regional leaders on bilateral relations and regional cooperation.

Guelleh was recently returned to office with 97.8 percent of the vote, securing a sixth term. The election was largely boycotted by opposition groups, while the sole challenger won only a small share of the ballots.

The 78-year-old Guelleh has led Djibouti for 27 years, remaining in power after constitutional changes removed the age limit for presidential candidates.