France, April 11 -- 78-year-old Guelleh, marked the moment of his re-election on Friday evening by posting an image of himself on X bearing the word "REELU" - French for "re-elected" - underlining the decisive nature of his victory.

The small nation of under one million people occupies a pivotal position on the Gulf of Aden at the entrance to the Red Sea. Its location has made it a key military and logistical hub, hosting bases from the US, China, France, Italy and Japan.

Since 2023, it has also served as a refuge for commercial vessels damaged in attacks by Yemen's Houthi militants, further highlighting its growing geopolitical importance.

Guelleh's win had been widely anticipated. He first came to power in 1999, succeeding his uncle,...