A senior aide to Djibouti’s long-serving president, Ismail Omar Guelleh, has resigned, accusing the government of democratic backsliding and nepotism.
In a statement seen on Monday, Alexis Mohamed, a close advisor and international spokesman for the president since 2015, announced his departure, saying he could no longer support the country’s political direction.
“The regression in democracy, the lack of transparency in economic and diplomatic agreements, the marginalisation of the republic’s institutions and the nepotistic management of the state compel me to take this action,” Mohamed said. He added that his decision had been “carefully considered for two years” rather than a sudden reaction.
Mohamed also rejected any attempt to amend the constitution to allow Guelleh—who has ruled since 1999—to run again in 2026. “Term limits are an essential foundation of any democracy,” he wrote, warning that scrapping them would be “highly detrimental” to Djibouti.
Guelleh, 77, has not ruled out contesting the election, though the current constitution bars candidates over 75. In April 2021, he secured re-election with more than 97 percent of the vote, while his ruling party, the Union for the Presidential Majority (UMP), dominates parliament.
Often referred to by his initials, IOG, Guelleh has positioned Djibouti as a strategic hub for foreign militaries, hosting bases for both the United States and China. He succeeded independence leader Hassan Gouled Aptidon in 1999 after serving as his chief of staff for over two decades.
