Djibouti's leader Ismail Omar Guelleh is expected to win a presidential election Friday, extending his 27-year rule of the tiny, highly strategic Horn of Africa nation.Guelleh, 78, known as "IOG", is one of Africa's longest serving leaders and has ruled the nation of around 1mn people since 1999.He has turned the arid former French colony into an international military and maritime hub for both the United States and China.With the opposition divided and largely silenced, Guelleh faces a single, low-profile opponent.He has campaigned across the country dressed in green, with a matching jersey and cap."There's not much at stake. It's just a token competition," said Sonia le Gouriellec, a Horn of Africa expert at Lille Catholic University.In a volatile region, Guelleh casts himself as the guarantor of stability in a nation nestled between old foes Ethiopia and Eritrea.To its south lies Somaliland, a self-proclaimed republic with a deep-water port and airfield whose unilateral independence from Somalia is recognised only by Israel.Last year, Djibouti struck a partnership with the Saudi Arabia to run its port at Tadjourah.The country's stability has drawn foreign military powers to establish bases there.France's biggest military base in Africa, counting some 1,500 soldiers, is in Djibouti, while China, Japan and Italy have troops in the country too.Djibouti is also home to the only permanent US military base in Africa, with some 4,000 troops supporting "anti-terrorist" operations on the continent, notably in Somalia.Djibouti has a unique location between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.It is situated at the mouth of the key Bab al-Mandab strait, a narrow waterway between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and one of the world's busiest shipping routes.Without agriculture to rely on, Djibouti depends on its ports for 70% of gross domestic product, with Ethiopia its main maritime outlet.Now, with the Middle East engulfed in the war pitting the United States and Israel against Iran, shipping in the Bab al-Mandab strait is under threat, possibly from Iran's allies, the Houthi fighters in Yemen.But the presence in Djibouti of military from China, another ally of Iran's, "protects the country from attacks by the Houthis" for now, said Le Gouriellec, the Horn of Africa expert.Just over 256,000 people are eligible to choose in Friday's election between Guelleh and Mohamed Farah Samatar, a former member of the ruling party and head of the Unified Democratic Centre (CDU), which has no seats in parliament.Omar Ali Ewado, head of the Djibouti League of Human Rights (LDDH), has called the vote a "masquerade" and said it is a "foregone conclusion"."The person who will challenge President Guelleh is a member of a small party subservient to those in power," he said.Djibouti is accused by human rights organisations of repressing dissenting voices. It ranks 168th out of 180 in the 2025 press freedom index by Reporters Without Borders.The head of state is also accused of favouring his ethnic group over the minorities, who complain of being marginalised.Guelleh won re-election in 2021 with 97% of the vote, in a ballot largely boycotted by the opposition.That was meant to be his final term but parliament voted to remove the 75-year age limit for presidential candidates.Asked whether Guelleh, who has difficulty walking, will see out his sixth mandate, Le Gouriellec said it depended on his health."Those around him, especially his wife, his stepson and his daughter, are in the front row and are already influential," she said.

Throughout history, great civilizations have been shaped by intellectual achievements, spiritual values, and cultural heritage. Central Asia has long been a center of science, art, and philosophy, forming civilizational foundations that have influenced the entire world. Today, this potential is embodied in a large-scale project — the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, which not only preserves historical artifacts but also serves as a living platform for science, education, and spiritual development. Established on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Islamic Civilization Center demonstrates how spiritual and educational values can serve as a foundation for national revival and international cooperation, attracting researchers, tourists, and the wider public from around the world. **media[433624]** Amir Temur holds a distinguished place in world history as an outstanding statesman, military leader, and founder of the Guragani dynasty, which ruled one of the largest empires of its time. The late 14th and early 15th centuries were a period of profound political transformation, and in this context Amir Temur succeeded in uniting vast territories from India to the Middle East, establishing a powerful and highly structured empire with an advanced system of governance. Diplomacy played a central role in his governance. Amir Temur established contacts with European countries, including France, England, and Castile. The Spanish envoy Ruy González de Clavijo, who visited Samarkand in 1404, noted the high level of state organization, developed infrastructure, and the respect shown to foreign ambassadors. **media[433621]** Amir Temur also created a unique legal foundation for his empire. According to the “Code of Temur,” the state relied on four pillars: council, deliberation, a well-considered plan, and determination. Nine-tenths of affairs were resolved through consultation and wise measures, and only one-tenth by the sword. This principle reflects the priority of diplomacy and legal solutions over military force, emphasizing the balance between justice and determination in governance. After the death of Amir Temur, his successors — the Timurids of the Guragani dynasty — continued the development of the state, paying particular attention to science, culture, and education. This period is often referred to as the Second Eastern Renaissance, marked by a flourishing of intellectual and artistic life that contributed to the development of the European Renaissance. A special place among the Timurids is occupied by Mirzo Ulughbek (1394–1449), grandson of Amir Temur. He was an outstanding scholar, astronomer, mathematician, and statesman of the Timurid era. Ulughbek ruled primarily from Samarkand, transforming it into one of the leading scientific centers of the medieval world. One of Ulughbek’s greatest achievements was the construction of the Ulughbek Observatory in the 1420s. This observatory was considered one of the most advanced in the world at that time. Together with scholars, he compiled the famous astronomical catalog “Gurgan Zij”, which recorded the coordinates of more than 1,000 stars with remarkable accuracy. **media[433623]** Today, the legacy of the Guragani dynasty can be seen at the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, where unique exhibits demonstrating the cultural and spiritual richness of the era are preserved. Among them is a fragment of the Quran copied by the calligrapher Umar Aqta for Amir Temur, known as the “Baysunghur Quran.” This manuscript represents a triumph of calligraphy over ornamentation: harmonious, powerful letterforms and the precise flow of ink create a grand visual effect. The Islamic Civilization Center preserves a single line of the Baysunghur Quran, allowing visitors to experience the greatness of Timurid art and understand how the culture of writing shaped the spiritual image of the state. A special place is also occupied by the Baburid talismanic robe — a protective garment created in court workshops to safeguard and bless its wearer. The dense cotton fabric is entirely covered with Quranic texts, as well as the shahada and the 99 names of Allah. On the back, there is a verse from Surah Yusuf (12:64): “Indeed, Allah is the best guardian, and He is the most merciful of the merciful.” The Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan is not only a museum but also a living educational platform. The architectural concept of the complex harmoniously combines Timurid traditions with modern technologies, symbolizing the unity of past and present. Its 65-meter dome and majestic portals embody the connection between all regions of Uzbekistan, creating a sense of monumentality and historical continuity. The Center’s exposition is built on the principle of “Civilizations — Personalities — Discoveries” and covers key historical stages: the pre-Islamic period, the First and Second Renaissances, as well as the New Uzbekistan — the Foundation of the Third Renaissance. Visitors can not only observe unique artifacts but also interact with them through VR and AR technologies, holograms, and artificial intelligence, making history vivid and tangible. The Center integrates diverse educational and cultural functions: interactive laboratories, the children’s museum “1001 Foundations,” a library with a collection of more than 2,500 manuscripts and lithographs, around 40,000 printed publications, and over 350,000 digital resources, a school of calligraphy and traditional arts by the King’s Foundation, as well as representative offices of ICESCO, IRCICA, and OCIS. All of this creates a space where tradition and innovation coexist and complement each other, stimulating the development of science and culture. Thanks to this approach, the Islamic Civilization Center becomes not just a repository of knowledge but a living bridge between historical renaissances and the Third Renaissance, ensuring continuity of traditions and inspiring new generations toward scientific, cultural, and spiritual achievements. Today, at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the 690th anniversary of the birth of Amir Temur — a great statesman, military leader, and patron of science and culture — is being widely celebrated. This anniversary is regarded not only as a tribute to history but also as an important factor in strengthening national identity, developing scientific potential, and promoting the country’s cultural diplomacy. As part of the anniversary events, the Islamic Civilization Center serves as a key platform for international dialogue. Thus, on April 9–11 of this year, a large-scale international scientific conference will be held here, bringing together more than 300 leading scholars, researchers, and experts from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. The conference aims to provide a comprehensive study of the role and significance of Amir Temur and the Guragani (Timurid) civilization in world history and culture, as well as to establish a sustainable platform for further international scientific and cultural cooperation. The Islamic Civilization Center stands today as a driving intellectual and cultural force in the region, fostering dialogue, advancing knowledge, and contributing to global understanding. Guided by the opening verse of Surah Al-'Alaq “Read in the name of your Lord", it connects past achievements with future aspirations.