DJIBOUTI’S Finance Minister, Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, has assured the public that President Ismail Omar Guelleh is in good health, dismissing recent rumours suggesting otherwise. Over the weekend, unconfirmed reports claimed that President Guelleh had been flown to Paris for urgent medical treatment related to a heart condition and was in critical condition.
On Sunday, Dawaleh addressed the claims in a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying, ‘Sorry haters, President @IsmailOguelleh is doing well, very well indeed.’ He condemned the spreading of misinformation, labelling it as slanderous.
Addressing rumours and speculation
Dawaleh criticised the false reports, stating, ‘One can dislike a leader without resorting to hatred and slander, to the point of wishing ill on another Muslim.’ He confirmed that President Guelleh has a knee problem, adding, ‘Yes, he has a problem with his right knee, so what? He is first and foremost a human being like you and me. Shame on the prophets of doom.’
President Guelleh, who has led Djibouti since 1999, secured his fifth term in office in April 2021 with over 97 percent of the vote in an election that was boycotted by the opposition. The recent health rumours appear to be part of ongoing political tensions, but officials have made it clear that the president remains fit and capable of leading the country.
The finance minister’s statements aimed to dispel any misinformation and reassure Djibouti’s citizens of the president’s health and wellbeing amidst unfounded speculation.
