US congratulates Djibouti's long-serving strongman on re-election

WASHINGTON, USA - The United States has commended Ismail Omar Guelleh for his re-election as president of Djibouti, a tiny Horn of Africa nation, whose election was concluded last week, in the backdrop of ongoing political instability in the region.

Guelleh, who has been at the helm since 1999, scored a resounding majority having garnered 98 percent of the cast valid votes. This will be his fifth term which takes him in the ranks of bigwigs, who have overstayed in power after taking over their respective countries.

Ned Price, the State Department spokesperson, said the US looks forward to working with Ismail Omar Guelleh on the advancement of each country's interests. Guelleh is one of Washington's key allies from the Horn of Africa on matters of development and security.

"The United States looks forward to working with the government of President Ismail Omar Guelleh and the people of Djibouti to advance our common interests following Djibouti’s presidential election on April 9," read the statement.

"We appreciate the work of the election observer missions from the African Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the League of Arab States, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development," the spokesperson further said.

Djibouti plays host to the US Africa Command, which is responsible for security missions in the African continent. There are over 6,000 US troops in Africa and the majority of them had been working in Somalia until their exit on January 15 this year.

The US encouraged Djibouti to strengthen her internal democratic institutions which have, however, been under scrutiny from the international community and the opposition in the country. The opposition has often accused Guelleh of dictatorship.

"The United States encourages the Government of Djibouti to further strengthen its democratic institutions and processes in line with recommendations from the observer missions," Ned Price added in his statement.

GAROWE ONLINE