Djibouti’s parliament has approved a major constitutional amendment removing the age limit for presidential candidates — a move that clears the path for long-serving President Ismail Omar Guelleh, 77, to seek a sixth term in next year’s election.

The National Assembly ratified the change on Sunday, officially eliminating the rule that barred anyone above 75 from running for president. Lawmakers who supported the move said it was necessary to preserve “stability and continuity” in the small but strategically important Horn of Africa nation.

“The National Assembly ratified the removal of the age limit today, so it is official,” Parliament Speaker Dileita Mohamed Dileita told reporters after the vote.

President Guelleh, who has ruled Djibouti since 1999, has not yet said whether he will run again. However, his earlier remarks about making a decision “based on what is best for the country” have sparked growing speculation that he plans to stay in power.

“I love my country too much to take any action that could divide it,” Guelleh said in an interview earlier this year.

Djibouti’s position at the entrance of the Red Sea gives it immense geopolitical importance, serving as a hub for several foreign military bases operated by the United States, France, China, and other powers. The country’s ports and trade routes are vital for global shipping, giving it influence beyond its size.

Guelleh’s ruling coalition, the Union for the Presidential Majority, controls parliament and dominates national politics. His most recent election victory in 2021, where he claimed over 97 percent of the vote, drew criticism from opposition groups and human rights organisations, who accused his government of stifling dissent and limiting political freedoms.

Supporters of the constitutional change argue that Guelleh’s leadership has brought stability and economic growth, while critics fear it could further entrench one-man rule and weaken democracy in the country.

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