![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Djiboutian_President_Ismail_Omar_Guelleh_at_the_presidential_palace_in_Djibouti%252C_Republic_of_Djibouti%252C_September_24%252C_2023_-_%2528cropped%2529.jpg/640px-Djiboutian_President_Ismail_Omar_Guelleh_at_the_presidential_palace_in_Djibouti%252C_Republic_of_Djibouti%252C_September_24%252C_2023_-_%2528cropped%2529.jpg&w=640&q=50)
Ismaïl Omar Guelleh
President of Djibouti since 1999 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ismaïl Omar Guellé (Somali: Ismaaciil Cumar Geelle; Arabic: إسماعيل عمر جيله; born 27 November 1946)[1][2] is a Djiboutian politician who has served as the President of Djibouti since 1999, making him one of the longest-serving rulers in Africa.[3] He is often referred to by his initials, IOG.
Ismaïl Omar Guellé | |
---|---|
إسماعيل عمر جيله | |
![]() Guelleh in 2023 | |
2nd President of Djibouti | |
Assumed office 8 May 1999 | |
Prime Minister | Barkat Gourad Hamadou Dileita Mohamed Dileita Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed |
Preceded by | Hassan Gouled Aptidon |
Personal details | |
Born | (1946-11-27) 27 November 1946 (age 77) Dire Dawa, Ethiopian Empire |
Political party | People's Rally for Progress |
Spouse | Kadra Mahamoud Haid |
Relations | Ridwan Ismaïl Saalah |
Children | Haïbado Ismaïl Omar Fatouma-Awo Ismaïl Omar Nasir Omar Ismaïl Saalah (1st line) Ahmad Shaheer Mappingé (2nd line) |
Guelleh was first elected as President in 1999 as the handpicked successor to his uncle, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, who had ruled Djibouti since independence in 1977.[4] Guelleh was re-elected in 2005, 2011, 2016 and in 2021. The elections were largely boycotted by the opposition amid complaints over widespread irregularities.[5][6] Guelleh has been characterized as a dictator, and his rule has been criticized by human rights groups and governments, such as the United States.[7] He is, at the international level, a close ally of France.
He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award, on 25 January 2019 for his role in the safe evacuation of Indian citizens from Yemen.[8]