| As in previous elections, the opposition had called for a country-wide boycott and demanded Guelleh conduct "transparent, free, fair and just elections | His son in law, Djama Elmi Okieh, is the Minister of Health |
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| One opposition candidate ran in the election, political newcomer Zakaria Ismail Farah, who accused the government of "ballot-box stuffing" and barring his delegates from accessing polling stations to monitor the voting process | BBC News, 9 April 2016• Early life and political beginnings [ ] Guelleh was born in , , into the politically powerful Mamassan subclan of the |
| Paris: EU Institute for Security Studies | He was awarded with the , India's second highest civilian award on 25 January 2019 for his role in the safe evacuation of Indian citizens from |
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| Fifth term, since 2021 [ ] In June 2021, Guelleh made vaccination against COVID-19 compulsory for both citizens and foreign residents | It is often understood as "as an authoritarian government delivering national prosperity through rigid planning and a singular focus on economic development at the expense of democracy, human rights, and basic freedoms |
On February 4, 1999, President Gouled Aptidon, uncle of Ismail Guelleh, announced his retirement at the time of the next election, and an extraordinary congress of his party, the ruling RPP , chose Guelleh as its presidential candidate, handpicked by Aptidon.
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