Djibouti's veteran ruler Ismail Omar Guelleh said Friday he was "very confident" of securing a fifth term as president as voters went to the polls in the tiny but strategically important African nation.

Some 215,000 citizens are registered to vote in the ballot pitting Guelleh, 73, against a little-known businessman widely seen as posing scant threat to the strongman, in power since 1999.

Polling stations opened at 6:00 am (0300 GMT) across the arid Horn of Africa nation, which overlooks one of the world's busiest trade routes at the crossroads between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

After voting in the capital city, where most of Djibouti's one million people reside, Guelleh said he was "very, very confident" of victory and praised the trouble-free conduct of the electoral exercise.

"Now, we wait for the results," said the president, dressed in immaculate white traditional robes, after placing his vote in a transparent ballot box.

Voting closes at 7:00 pm and the results are expected by the evening.

Independent election observers said the process was rolling out smoothly, with no reports of misconduct, although polling stations noted that voters were in no particular rush to cast their ballots.

"So far, everything is going well and is calm," Ahmed Tidiane Souare, the head of an African Union (AU) observer mission, told reporters.

'My vote is useless'

Guelleh was the handpicked successor to his relative Hassan Gouled Aptidon, the country's first president after independence from France in 1977.

He faces just one challenger -- political newcomer Zakaria Ismail Farah -- after Djibouti's main opposition parties boycotted the election.

Farah, a 56-year-old cleaning products importer, cast doubt on the transparency of the voting process, saying his delegates were not present at polling stations.

"My vote is of no use, nor are the votes of 80 percent of the Djiboutian people," the opposition candidate told AFP in a text message. 
 
Souare, from the observer mission, said all candidates were free to send their officials to any polling station.&nbsp;

Farah, who had styled himself as the "flag bearer of poor Djiboutians", had alleged unfair treatment during the election campaign, including that he was not provided security at his rallies.

Guelleh, and his extended family, have controlled Djibouti with an iron fist since he was handed power. A rare wave of opposition protests in 2020 were brutally suppressed.

His predicted fifth term will be his last, under a 2010 constitutional reform that scrapped term limits while introducing an age limit of 75, which would lock him out of future elections.

Guelleh has clinched at least 75 percent of the vote in every presidential election he has contested, and urged voters to turn out in large numbers.

"I am always the first to vote. I am a Djiboutian, I have to vote," said 64-year-old Ahmed Abdillah Hadi after casting his ballot.

"I am with President Ismail. I voted for him, I love him."

The vote proceeded despite a surge in Covid-19 cases and infection rates, and few wore face masks as they

cheered Guelleh at a crowded final rally this week.

Stable and strategic

Under Guelleh, the country has exploited its geographical advantage, investing heavily in ports and logistics infrastructure.&nbsp;

In 2018, seeking to become a trade and logistics hub, the country launched the first phase of what will be Africa's biggest free-trade zone, financed by China.

Flanked by Somalia and opposite Yemen, Djibouti has remained stable in a volatile neighbourhood, drawing foreign military powers such as former colonial ruler France, the United States and China to establish bases there.

But the country has also seen an erosion of press freedom and a crackdown on dissent as it has courted foreign interest.

The country's economy shrank by one percent in 2020, but is expected to grow seven percent this year, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Djibouti's GDP per capita income is about $3,500, higher than much of sub-Saharan Africa, but some 20 percent of the population lives in extreme poverty and 26 percent are unemployed, according to the World Bank.

Djibouti's veteran ruler Ismail Omar Guelleh said Friday he was "very confident" of securing a fifth term as president as voters went to the polls in the tiny but strategically important African nation.

Djibouti's veteran ruler Ismail Omar Guelleh said Friday he was "very confident" of securing a fifth term as president as voters went to the polls in the tiny but strategically important African nation. Some 215,000 citizens are registered to vote in the ballot pitting Guelleh, 73, against a little-known businessman widely seen as posing scant threat to the strongman, in power since 1999. Polling stations opened at 6:00 am (0300 GMT) across the arid Horn of Africa nation, which overlooks one of the world's busiest trade routes at the crossroads between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. After voting in the capital city, where most of Djibouti's one million people reside, Guelleh said he was "very, very confident" of victory and praised the trouble-free conduct of the electoral exercise. "Now, we wait for the results," said the president, dressed in immaculate white traditional robes, after placing his vote in a transparent ballot box. Voting closes at 7:00 pm and the results are expected by the evening. Independent election observers said the process was rolling out smoothly, with no reports of misconduct, although polling stations noted that voters were in no particular rush to cast their ballots. "So far, everything is going well and is calm," Ahmed Tidiane Souare, the head of an African Union (AU) observer mission, told reporters. 'My vote is useless' Guelleh was the handpicked successor to his relative Hassan Gouled Aptidon, the country's first president after independence from France in 1977. He faces just one challenger -- political newcomer Zakaria Ismail Farah -- after Djibouti's main opposition parties boycotted the election. Farah, a 56-year-old cleaning products importer, cast doubt on the transparency of the voting process, saying his delegates were not present at polling stations. "My vote is of no use, nor are the votes of 80 percent of the Djiboutian people," the opposition candidate told AFP in a text message. Souare, from the observer mission, said all candidates were free to send their officials to any polling station. Farah, who had styled himself as the "flag bearer of poor Djiboutians", had alleged unfair treatment during the election campaign, including that he was not provided security at his rallies. Guelleh, and his extended family, have controlled Djibouti with an iron fist since he was handed power. A rare wave of opposition protests in 2020 were brutally suppressed. His predicted fifth term will be his last, under a 2010 constitutional reform that scrapped term limits while introducing an age limit of 75, which would lock him out of future elections. Guelleh has clinched at least 75 percent of the vote in every presidential election he has contested, and urged voters to turn out in large numbers. "I am always the first to vote. I am a Djiboutian, I have to vote," said 64-year-old Ahmed Abdillah Hadi after casting his ballot. "I am with President Ismail. I voted for him, I love him." The vote proceeded despite a surge in Covid-19 cases and infection rates, and few wore face masks as they cheered Guelleh at a crowded final rally this week. Stable and strategic Under Guelleh, the country has exploited its geographical advantage, investing heavily in ports and logistics infrastructure. In 2018, seeking to become a trade and logistics hub, the country launched the first phase of what will be Africa's biggest free-trade zone, financed by China. Flanked by Somalia and opposite Yemen, Djibouti has remained stable in a volatile neighbourhood, drawing foreign military powers such as former colonial ruler France, the United States and China to establish bases there. But the country has also seen an erosion of press freedom and a crackdown on dissent as it has courted foreign interest. The country's economy shrank by one percent in 2020, but is expected to grow seven percent this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. Djibouti's GDP per capita income is about $3,500, higher than much of sub-Saharan Africa, but some 20 percent of the population lives in extreme poverty and 26 percent are unemployed, according to the World Bank.

Veteran ruler Guelleh confident of victory as Djibouti votes

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Veteran ruler Guelleh confident of victory as Djibouti votes