List of presidents of Djibouti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids President of Djibouti |
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Coat of Arms
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| Abbreviation | POD |
| Residence | Presidential Palace, Djibouti |
| Seat | Djibouti |
| Term length | Five years,
renewable
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| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Djibouti (1992) |
| Inaugural holder | Hassan Gouled Aptidon |
| Formation | 27 June 1977 |
| Salary | 1,777,200 Djiboutian francs/10,000 USD annually |
| Website | https://www.presidence.dj/ |
The President of Djibouti is a very important leader in the country of Djibouti. This person is both the head of state (the main representative of the country) and the head of government (the leader who runs the country's daily business). They are also the commander-in-chief of the Djibouti Armed Forces, meaning they are in charge of the country's military.
Since Djibouti became an independent country in 1977, there have been two presidents. The current president is Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, who has been in office since 1999.
Contents
Becoming President: A Quick Look
The first president of Djibouti was Hassan Gouled Aptidon. He was one of the key leaders of a group called the Ligue Populaire Africaine pour l'Indépendance (LPAI). He became president on June 27, 1977. This was the very day Djibouti was declared a republic, a country where the power belongs to the people and their elected representatives.
How Long Can a President Serve?
The rules for how long a president can serve are written in the Constitution of Djibouti. This is like a rulebook for the country. For a long time, the constitution said a president could only serve two terms. A "term" is a period of time they are elected for, which is five years in Djibouti.
However, in 2010, this rule was changed. The limit on how many terms a president could serve was removed. This means a president can now be elected more than twice.
Who Has Been President?
Here is a list of the people who have served as President of Djibouti. You can see their pictures, when they were born, and how long they were in office.
- Political parties
People's Rally for Progress (PRP)
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Elected | Term of office | Political party (Coalition) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||
 • Republic of Djibouti (1977–present) •  |
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| 1 |  |
Hassan Gouled Aptidon (1916–2006) |
1981 1987 1993 |
27 June 1977 | 8 May 1999 | 21 years, 315 days | RPP |
| 2 |  |
Ismaïl Omar Guelleh (born 1947) |
1999 2005 2011 2016 2021 |
8 May 1999 | Incumbent | 26 years, 86 days | RPP (UMP) |
Timeline of Presidents
This timeline shows when each president served. It helps you see how long each person was in office.
Latest Presidential Election
The most recent election for president in Djibouti happened in 2021.
2021 Djiboutian presidential election
Learn More About Djibouti's Leaders
- History of Djibouti
- Politics of Djibouti
- List of prime ministers of Djibouti
- First Lady of Djibouti
- French Territory of the Afars and the Issas (FTAI)
- French Somaliland
- List of governors of French Somaliland
