**President Guelleh sets priorities for Djibouti’s new government**
*Djibouti, 1 September 2026* – President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh addressed the first cabinet meeting of the year at the Palais de la République, outlining the government’s priorities for the political season. The meeting, which marked the start of the national “rentrée politique,” focused on strengthening state functions, investing in human capital, and accelerating economic diversification.
### Security and fundamental rights
Guelleh placed security, peace, and the protection of fundamental rights at the top of the agenda. He urged the government to maintain vigilance in internal security, safeguard vital infrastructure, and tighten border controls. “The geopolitical context we live in requires us to continually reinforce our vigilance in internal security, the security of our vital infrastructure, and border control,” he said.
### Human capital as a national asset
The president emphasized that education, training, and health are not merely social policies but essential conditions for national cohesion and citizen confidence. He described human capital as Djibouti’s “first wealth” and called for particular attention to youth development. This includes vocational training, technical education, access to financing, entrepreneurship, and job placement. Guelleh also stressed the need to guarantee “inclusion and equal opportunities for citizens with special needs.”
### Economic diversification
On economic matters, Guelleh urged the creation of new growth engines to reduce dependence on a few sectors. He highlighted light industry, digital services, tourism, renewable energy, and fishing as priority areas. The president also called for the valorization of national resources, innovation, and the entrepreneurship of young people and women. He noted that existing strengths—logistics, banking, and telecommunications—must be consolidated.
### Fiscal discipline
The president requested accelerated public finance reforms and a strengthened macro‑economic framework to improve resource allocation, budget transparency, and accountability in state accounts.
### Digital transformation
Digital transformation was identified as a key lever for modernizing the state. Guelleh called for faster digitization of administrative procedures, the dematerialization of public services, and system interoperability. He also mentioned the upcoming national forum on artificial intelligence, which aims to explore responsible and controlled use of AI technologies.
The priorities outlined by President Guelleh provide a roadmap for the Djiboutian government, focusing on state consolidation, human capital development, economic diversification, fiscal discipline, and digital modernization.
Article and image source: adi.dj
