Mohamed Farah Samatar

Mohamed Farah Samatar is a Djiboutian politician who ran against incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh in the presidential election held on April 10, 2026. He represents a political party that does not hold any seats in the Djiboutian parliament. Samatar's candidacy is newsworthy because he challenged Guelleh, who has been in power since 1999 and was widely expected to win a sixth term after the presidential age limit was removed. The election itself is significant as it highlights the political landscape of Djibouti, where Guelleh's long-standing rule has faced limited opposition. Despite Samatar's participation, the election was largely viewed as lacking suspense, with Guelleh anticipated to secure another term.