ADDIS ABABA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The official start of presidential campaign rallies on Friday marked a new phase in Djibouti's electoral process, as candidates launched their first major activities across the country ahead of the presidential election scheduled for next month.
The Red Sea nation will hold its presidential election on April 10. The two main contenders are the country's incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh (IOG), candidate for the ruling Union for the Presidential Majority (UMP), and Mohamed Farah Samatar, presidential candidate for the Unified Democratic Centre (CDU).
The two presidential candidates officially launched their campaign rallies on Friday, as President Guelleh held his first rally in Dikhil city, with a turnout of supporters in strong numbers to mark the event. He is on a nationwide tour set to continue until April 8, state-broadcaster Radio Television of Djibouti (RTD) reported late Friday.
In his speech, Guelleh reaffirmed his commitment to national unity and stability, outlining key priorities, including economic growth, youth employment, and strengthening public services for the coming term.
On Saturday, Guelleh continued his campaign in Ali Sabieh, where a large crowd gathered at the local stadium. Supporters wore green scarves and caps, displaying banners with his campaign slogan of "With Complete Confidence: IOG-2026."
The other candidate Samatar held his first campaign rally in Tadjourah on Friday, where he addressed a large crowd. He presented an alternative vision for the country embodied by his slogan, "Another Djibouti is possible."
The CDU candidate emphasized his ambition to bring meaningful change through political renewal, with his campaign focusing on citizen engagement as a cornerstone of its message to voters, RTD reported. Samatar also held his second rally in Obock, in the northern part of the country.
Djibouti's current President Guelleh is seeking a sixth term in office. This follows the country's parliamentary decision last year to remove the constitutional age restriction for presidential candidates.
The two candidates will continue their nationwide tours in the coming days, with rallies planned across multiple regions as the campaign intensifies ahead of the April 10 vote. ■