Aden Ali Mahamade installed as defence minister
Mahamade, previously ambassador to Eritrea, takes over from Hassan Omar Mohamed Bourhan who died in office.
Aden Ali Mahamade was officially installed as Djibouti's new defence minister on November 5, 2026. President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh appointed Mahamade by decree to the position. He succeeds Hassan Omar Mohamed Bourhan, who passed away while serving as minister.
The handover ceremony was attended by the Minister of Interior, Omar Abdi Said, who had been acting as interim minister. Mahamade is familiar with diplomatic matters, having previously held responsibilities in international cooperation. He also served as Djibouti's ambassador to Eritrea.
Mahamade's prior experience includes representing Djibouti as ambassador to Eritrea and working in international cooperation.