Uhuru in Djibouti for President Guelleh's inauguration

President Uhuru Kenyatta is among several heads of state and government who are in Djibouti to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Ismail Omar Guelleh.

Uhuru, who is the current Chairperson of the East African Community, arrived in Djibouti on Saturday morning accompanied by Foreign Affairs CS Raychelle Omamo.

Guelleh was last month re-elected for a fifth term as president with more than 98 per cent of the vote.

The desert nation of fewer than one million people lies on one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, the Gulf of Aden, and hosts U.S., Chinese, and French military bases.

Guelleh, 73, is one of Africa’s longest-ruling leaders. He was picked to succeed his uncle, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, who led the country to independence from France in 1977.

Guelleh faced only one challenger, relative newcomer Zakaria Ismail Farah.