Guelleh faces no serious challengers. The main opposition parties — the Movement for Democratic Renewal and Development (MRD) and the Republican Alliance for Democracy (ARD) — are boycotting the election, citing a lack of fairness and integrity. The only opponent allowed on the ballot is Mohamed Farah Samatar, a former ruling party member and the leader the United Democratic Center (CDU), which holds no parliamentary seats.

Guelleh, 78, seeks to extend his more than 26 years of rule after orchestrating a constitutional amendment last year that removed the presidential age limit of 75.

Since Guelleh inherited the presidency from his uncle in 1999, his regime has exerted absolute control of the electoral process, heavily tilting the electoral playing field in its favor and systematically suppressing viable opposition and dissent. As a result, Guelleh has consistently claimed implausibly high vote shares in elections.