Djibouti — One of the many unfree places left in the world where a “president” can call the opposition cowards while firing tear gas at them for protesting a rigged election.

Djibouti’s incumbent leader, Ismail Omar Guelleh, has won presidential elections boycotted by the opposition and in which he was the sole candidate.

The high turnout – 78.9% – was the only unpredictable element in the polls.

Mr Guelleh, who won 100% of the ballots cast, told France’s Le Figaro newspaper he regretted “having no opponent”.

Earlier on Friday, police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters rallying against the elections who had set up a roadblock with burning tyres.

During his campaign, Mr Guelleh pledged to reduce poverty and the country’s dependence on food imports while boosting women’s rights and transparency in the public administration.

“I accuse the opposition of not having the courage to give voters the right to choose between several candidates,” the French paper quoted him as saying.

But the opposition has vowed not to accept his re-election.

“We would rather die standing than follow on our knees,” a banner read.

“It is meaningless to vote,” Ali Guedda Boulsa told the AFP news agency before Mr Guelleh’s victory was announced. “Our votes are never considered.”

After casting his ballot, Mr Guelleh said the opposition “were afraid to engage in the battle.”

He campaigned vigorously with most rallies held in the evening when the scorching afternoon temperatures of up to 45C had cooled.

He has been in power since winning elections in 1999 but says he will not stand again.

The only challenger withdrew last month citing a lack of funds.

A diplomat told the BBC’s Mohammed Adow in Djibouti that, with the outcome not in doubt, the process itself would be closely watched.

The opposition accused the ruling coalition of rigging 2003 parliamentary elections in which it won all 65 seats.

Earlier this year, the US criticised Djibouti’s human rights record as “poor”.

This criticism came despite Djibouti hosting the only US military base in Africa which Washington uses for its fight against terror in the region.

Djibouti, strategically placed on the Red Sea, also has the largest French military base in Africa.

Here’s more information on the protests.

Police and witnesses said between 300 to 500 people were gathered at the headquarters of the opposition Union for Democracy and Justice (UDG) when they were confronted by authorities ordering them to break up.

They then started to throw stones at police and attempted to block the road outside the office, prompting security forces to launch teargas canisters into the crowd, officials said.

The opposition has been without a strong central and charismatic leader since the death last year of former prime minister Ahmed Dini Ahmed and did not put up a candidate.

Before yesterday????????s clash, the protesters had already denounced the vote as a farce.

???????We had to use force to disperse them after several attempts to get them to leave peacefully,??????? said Omar Hassan, a colonel in the Djibouti security force, adding that political rallies after the end of the campaign period were barred.

With the incumbent Ismail Omar Guelleh certain to win re-election, the only unknown factor in the polls is whether the boycott call would keep enough voters away to significantly tarnish his victory.

Here’s what the opposition had to say about it.

Mohamed Daoud Chehem is a prominent opposition leader who, like other candidates, pulled out of the race, complaining of government harassment and lack of transparency.

Multi-party politics was introduced in Djibouti in 1992, after international pressure forced then-President Hassan Gouled Aptidon – President Guelleh’s uncle – to give up 15 years of absolute rule.

Mr. Chehem says, in contrast, President Guelleh, who was first elected in 1999, has faced little international criticism or scrutiny, even though the Djiboutian leader has been repeatedly accused by opponents of attempting to re-establish one-party rule in the former French colony.

In parliamentary elections held two years ago, the opposition claimed widespread vote-rigging, after President Guelleh’s Union for Presidential Majority coalition won all 65 seats.

“This government completely ignores democracy and human rights. It only knows how to do things by force,” Mr. Chehem said. He warns that such a government can only bring destruction and more suffering to a country, which is already one of the poorest countries in the world.