Ismail Omar Guelleh has been elected president for the sixth time in Djibouti, a nation of just 1 million people.

Mogadishu: The nation of Djibouti, with a population of just 1 million, has elected Ismail Omar Guelleh as its president for the sixth consecutive term. Ismail Omar Guelleh secured 97.81 percent of the vote in Friday’s election, re-electing him for the sixth consecutive term, according to official results from Djibouti.

78-year-old Guelleh has ruled this small country (population about 1 million) in the Horn of Africa for more than two decades. Last year, the country’s parliament abolished the age limit for the presidency. Election officials said the voting was peaceful. On Saturday, supporters celebrated and congratulated the president at the presidential palace. The only candidate challenging Guelleh was Mohamed Farah Samatar, a former member of the ruling party. Analysts say there was almost no real competition in this election. Opposition parties often boycott elections and allege restrictions on political freedom.