Ismaïl Omar Guelleh
Ismaïl Omar Guellé (Somali: Ismaaciil Cumar Geelle; Arabic: إسماعيل عمر جيله; born 27 November 1946) is a Djiboutian politician who has served as the President of Djibouti since 1999, making him one of the longest-serving rulers in Africa. He is often referred to by his initials, IOG.
Ismaïl Omar Guellé | |
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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 | 27 November 1946 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) |
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President of Djibouti 1999-present
Government
parliamentary election Family |
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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. Guelleh was re-elected in 2005, 2011, 2016 and in 2021. The elections were largely boycotted by the opposition amid complaints over widespread irregularities. Guelleh has been characterized as a dictator, and his rule has been criticized by human rights groups and governments, such as the United States. 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.