Hassan Gouled Aptidon

President of Djibouti (1977–99), born in Djibouti city. He was a representative of French Somaliland in France while becoming increasingly active in the independence movement. He joined the African People's League for Independence (LPAI) in 1967 and, when independence was achieved, became the country's first president. Later LPAI was amalgamated with other parties to become the People's Progress Party (RPP), and Djibouti's sole political party. He was re-elected in 1987 and, faced with armed opposition from the Federation for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy in 1992, proposed a new multi-party constitution. When re-elected again in 1993, his party continued to monopolize political power. He stepped down in 1999 and was succeeded by his nephew and chief-of-staff, Ismail Omar Guelleh (1947– ), who was elected in the country's first multiparty elections.