Omar Guelleh sworn in, pledges to accelerate Djibouti's economic growth
Africa
By
Patrick Vidija
| May 10, 2026
President Ismail Omar Guelleh has pledged to accelerate economic growth for Djibouti, aimed at improving transport connectivity and strengthening cooperation among neighbouring countries.
Speaking on Saturday after he was officially sworn in for a sixth term, Guelleh said his government will also focus on deepening regional economic integration while strengthening infrastructure projects aimed at transforming the Horn of Africa into a major trade and logistics hub.
The swearing-in ceremony held at the People's Palace in Djibouti drew several regional leaders, including Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh, South Sudan’s Salva Kiir Mayardit and Abiy Ahmed, underlining the growing geopolitical and economic importance of the emerging DESSU corridor project linking Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Uganda.
Kenya’s delegation was led by Health Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale, accompanied by Bura Member of Parliament Yakub Adow and nominated MP Abdisirat Khalif.
Guelleh was last month officially confirmed as the winner of a sixth straight election with a final tally of 97.01 per cent of the vote by the Constitutional Council.
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Guelleh, 78, has ruled Djibouti unchallenged since 1999.
In his inauguration speech, President Guelleh said, “Our future prosperity lies in regional integration, trade connectivity and shared infrastructure,” adding that Djibouti would continue investing in transport and port facilities to support trade across East Africa.
The presence of the Ethiopian and South Sudanese leaders was widely interpreted as a strong endorsement of the DESSU initiative, a regional infrastructure project expected to connect the landlocked economies of Ethiopia, South Sudan and Uganda to the Port of Djibouti through highways, railways, pipelines and fibre-optic networks.
Analysts say the corridor could significantly reduce transport costs and enhance regional trade competitiveness, especially for countries heavily reliant on imports and exports through foreign ports.
The former French colony borders the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which provides access to the Red Sea from the Gulf of Aden, through which passes a large portion of trade between Asia and the West.
Djibouti has just over a million inhabitants, but has leveraged its location to turn it into an international military and maritime hub, hosting military bases and contingents from France, the United States, China, Japan and Italy.
Guelleh, 78, had vowed his fifth term would be his last, but he ultimately had the constitution altered to allow him to run past the age of 75.
His supporters credit him with maintaining stability and attracting major international investments into ports, logistics and transport infrastructure.
The inauguration ceremony also highlighted Djibouti’s growing diplomatic influence in the Horn of Africa at a time when regional governments are seeking stronger economic cooperation to address trade bottlenecks, insecurity and development challenges
While congratulating President Guelleh on behalf of President William Ruto, CS Duale said Kenya and Djibouti share a common vision for peace, stability and economic growth in the Horn of Africa.