Hassan Gouled Aptidon was the founding president of Djibouti, a position he held from 1977 until his resignation in 1999. He played a central role in Djibouti's path to independence and its subsequent political development. Born in 1916 in the town of Lughaya in what is now Somalia, Aptidon was from the Issa clan, one of the two dominant ethnic groups in Djibouti, alongside the Afar.

Before Djibouti's independence, Aptidon was active in colonial politics, representing French Somaliland in the French National Assembly from 1957 to 1958. He was a key figure in securing autonomy for the territory, which at that time was under French colonial rule. His efforts contributed to the 1967 referendum in which the people of French Somaliland (now Djibouti) voted to remain associated with France, though a significant part of the population opposed the result. Aptidon became a senior advisor to the then head of the territory, Ali Aref Bourhan, but soon emerged as a leader in his own right.

As independence movements gained traction across Africa, Aptidon founded the Ligue Populaire Africaine pour l'Indépendance (LPAI), which sought to achieve full independence for Djibouti. This goal was realized on June 27, 1977, when Djibouti became a sovereign nation. Following independence, Aptidon was elected president, marking the beginning of his long tenure in power.

His presidency was initially marked by a focus on nation-building and maintaining stability in the face of potential ethnic divisions between the Issa and Afar populations. However, his administration became increasingly authoritarian over time. In 1981, Djibouti became a one-party state under the Rassemblement Populaire pour le Progrès (RPP), the ruling party that Aptidon had established. Although opposition parties were banned, Aptidon maintained close ties with foreign powers, particularly France, and positioned Djibouti as a strategic partner in international affairs due to its location along the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, a critical shipping lane.

Aptidon's rule was not without internal challenges. The Afar-dominated opposition, Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD), launched a civil war against his government in the early 1990s, citing the marginalization of the Afar ethnic group. The conflict led to peace agreements in 1994 and 2001, although tensions remained a feature of Djiboutian politics.

After more than two decades in power, Hassan Gouled Aptidon stepped down in 1999, citing age and health reasons. His nephew, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, succeeded him as president, continuing the family’s political legacy. Aptidon died in 2006 at the age of 90.

He is remembered as a pivotal figure in Djibouti's history, having led the country from colonial rule to independence and serving as its first president for over 20 years. Despite criticisms of his authoritarian style, his role in shaping Djibouti's political landscape is widely acknowledged.

REFERENCE:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Gouled_Aptidon