Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh seeks fourth-term

Polls are underway in Djibouti's Presidential election where incumbent Ismail Omar Guelleh is running for a fourth term against a weak opposition. 

Mr Guelleh has been in power since 1999 and has been criticized for his tight grip on power. 

He is facing five challengers but the opposition complain of police brutality and media bias. 

Djibouti's strategic position on the Gulf of Aden makes it ideal for US and French military bases. 

The country is also seen as relatively stable in a region which includes Somalia, where the government does not control the whole country, and Yemen, where there is a civil war. 

The opposition has expressed anger that the President rescinded his earlier decision not to seek a fourth term. 


SOURCE: BBC news