Ismail Omar Guelleh

About

People's Rally for Progress party member and President of the African Republic of Djibouti. He won the 1999 Djibouti presidential election by a landslide, earning over seventy-four percent of the total vote.

Before Fame

As a young man, he trained with both the French and Somali Secret Services and went on to head the Djibouti Secret Police.

Trivia

Despite a series of protests, he successfully secured a Djibouti constitutional amendment that allowed him to serve a third term as president.

Family Life

He married Kadra Mahamoud Haid. They have two daughters together. His uncle, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, served from 1977-1999 as first President of Djibouti.

Associated With

Meles Zenawai held office as Prime Minister of Guelleh's native Ethiopia during the same period in which Guelleh served as Prime Minister of Djibouti.