A few hours after the start of the presidential election this Friday in Djibouti, voters are trickling into the polls.
The voter turnout remains the main issue in this election, which is expected to secure a sixth term for Ismaïl Omar Guelleh. Barring a dramatic turn of events, something this Horn of Africa nation hasn't experienced in decades.
The 78-year-old incumbent president faces Mohamed Farah Samatar, president of the United Democratic Centre, who is virtually unknown in the country.
Ismaïl Omar Guelleh is seeking re-election thanks to a constitutional reform that removed the age limit for presidential candidates. He has been in power for 27 years.
The country has a unique geographical location between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. And it hosts military bases belonging to several Western powers.
