Djibouti's Council of Ministers has approved a decree moving local elections out of Ramadan and extending councillors' mandates. It also approved a revised 2026 budget and new funding for young entrepreneurs.
Djibouti's Council of Ministers, chaired by President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh on Tuesday 27 October, approved a decree postponing regional and municipal elections from February to April 2027, the national broadcaster RTD reported.
According to the official communiqué, the vote would have coincided with Ramadan, expected from about 8 February to 8 March 2027. The authorities moved it to April "to allow citizens contemplation during this holy month" and to ensure better conditions for organising the polls. The mandates of regional and municipal councillors, which expire on 11 February 2027, will be extended until the April vote.
Youth enterprise fund
Guelleh announced an exceptional allocation of 1.8 billion Djibouti francs to the Djibouti Economic Development Fund (FDED). The fund has made no new loans since 2016 and has concentrated on recovering its existing portfolio. The money is intended to restart lending to young entrepreneurs and small businesses. Priority sectors include agriculture, livestock, fishing, tourism, renewable energy, logistics and digital services. The decree also sets up separate accounting so that the use of the money, jobs created and repayments can be tracked.
Revised budget and finance reform
Ministers approved a revised 2026 budget of 168.5 billion Djibouti francs, down about 2.2 per cent from the initial budget. The communiqué said general revenue to the end of May was 55.2 billion francs against a projected 68.1 billion. It put projected growth at 5.9 per cent for 2026, down from 6.5 per cent in 2025, and cited risks from disruption to maritime trade and higher freight and energy costs.
The council also adopted a draft organic law on public finance. It would introduce programme-based budgeting, multi-year planning and stronger oversight by parliament and the Court of Audit, replacing a law from 2000.
Foreign relations
The foreign minister reported on his first official visit to China, from 19 to 24 October. During the visit Djibouti signed a memorandum of understanding on China's Global Security Initiative, and the minister met China's defence minister. Djibouti hosts military bases of several foreign powers, including China, the US and France.
The communiqué gives no reason for the postponement other than Ramadan.
Photo: President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh at the presidential palace in Djibouti, 24 September 2023. U.S. Secretary of Defense, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.