Elections in Djibouti

The Ministry of the Interior, through the Direction des Élections, organizes voter registration, electoral rolls, voter cards and the collection of election materials. The Commission Électorale Nationale Indépendante (CENI) supervises and monitors elections nationally, with relays in Djibouti City and the regions. Prefectures manage territorial electoral lists, while embassies and consulates handle registration and voting arrangements for citizens abroad. The Conseil Constitutionnel rules on candidate eligibility and electoral disputes, then validates and definitively proclaims results. Presidential elections use direct universal suffrage and a five-year mandate. A candidate who receives an absolute majority in the first round wins. If no candidate reaches that threshold, the two leading candidates compete in a second round held within 15 days. The latest presidential election took place on 10 April 2026. Among 243,208 registered voters, 215,393 voted, producing an official participation rate of 88.56%; 211,192 ballots were valid and 4,201 were invalid. Ismaïl Omar Guelleh received 97.01% and Mohamed Farah Samatar 2.99%, so no second round was held. The Conseil Constitutionnel issued the final proclamation on 21 April 2026. The National Assembly has 65 deputies elected for five years by direct and secret vote. Voters choose a list in a single round without panachage or preferential voting. The list receiving the majority obtains 80% of the seats. The remaining seats are allocated by highest average among lists that receive more than 10% of the vote. Constituencies allocate 35 seats to Djibouti City, 6 to Ali-Sabieh, 3 to Arta, 11 to Dikhil, 4 to Obock and 6 to Tadjourah. The latest legislative election was held on 24 February 2023, with an official participation rate of 74%; the UMP won 58 seats and the UDJ won 7. Regional and communal elections use political or independent lists. The 2022 local elections covered 220 seats, including 140 communal seats in Djibouti City and 80 regional seats. The UMP won 219 seats and the MDJ won 1. The Conseil Constitutionnel proclaimed the results, while dates for the next local elections were not established in the supplied sources. Citizens of both sexes can vote from at least 18 years of age if they retain their civil and political rights and appear on the electoral roll. A conviction for a crime, a prison sentence exceeding three months, a sentence exceeding one day that is suspended, or certain unintentional offences can exclude a person from voting. Normal registration and revision run from 2 January to 30 September. In an election year, provisional lists are closed on 30 September. A voter applies to the Prefect with supporting documents; transfers require proof of residence or another accepted justification. A duplicate registration leaves the latest registration in place and removes earlier registrations. The voter card remains valid while the registration remains active. Polling stations generally open from 06:00 to 18:00. A station normally has a president, a secretary and two assessors, with at least three officials present. The State supplies printed ballots showing the candidate's colour or emblem; combining the national flag with a candidate's design is prohibited. Each candidate or list can appoint a delegate to observe voting, counting and the recording of objections in the official report. The report records registered voters, voters, proxies or mission orders, invalid ballots and votes for each candidate or list. Results are displayed at the polling station, and copies go to the Conseil Constitutionnel, the Ministry of the Interior and the Prefecture archives. Invalid or disputed ballots are attached to the relevant report. Voting under an official mission order is exceptional and subject to strict registration and removal controls. Candidates and lists receive access to public audiovisual broadcasts under the supervision of the Commission Nationale de la Communication. Campaign information may also circulate through traditional and digital media. For the 2026 presidential election, the official campaign began on 27 March 2026 at 00:00. After polling, the Ministry of the Interior transmits provisional results and supporting documents. The Conseil Constitutionnel reviews regularity, decides complaints and issues the final proclamation. Its decisions have absolute authority, no appeal is available, and the results are published in the Journal Officiel de la République de Djibouti. The President is both head of state and head of government, appoints the Prime Minister and does not form a coalition government through a parliamentary coalition mechanism directly created by the election.