Your account has been succesfully created.

EN FR

The Morning Brief
Log in

Password

Keep me logged in

Forgot your password?
Subscribe

Djibouti

In Tigray, an uncertain lull

Direct clashes between federal troops and the TDF have subsided. Meanwhile, African Union envoy Obasanjo is staffing up a mediation team that has been stalling for months.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 03.03.2022

The failure of mediation over Tigray whets the appetites of Moscow and Beijing

The low-key visit to the Horn of Africa in early February by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov was followed by the appointment of a special Chinese envoy for the region. Their interest coincides with the loss of momentum in the ongoing talks between Kenya and the African Union.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 02.03.2022

Eiffage dips into hydropower along the gulf of Tadjoura

The French company returns to Djibouti to work on renewable energy shortly after completing a seawater desalination plant.

Subscribers only Energy, Business 28.02.2022

Having established links with Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, Hargeisa lobbies Washington for recognition

Somaliland president Muse Bihi Abdi. © Reuters

Subscribers only Diplomacy 25.02.2022

Djibouti's president Ismaïl Omar Guelleh at the African Union Assembly in Addis Ababa on 5 February 2022. © Tiksa Negeri/Reuters

Security chiefs wade into IOG succession battle

In recent weeks, the clan battle to succeed Djiboutian president Ismail Omar Guelleh in 2026 (or earlier if his health were to deteriorate) has intensified.

Subscribers only Politics 24.02.2022

Egyptian President Abdelfattah al-Sisi (right) welcomed his Djiboutian counterpart Ismaïl Omar Guelleh (IOG) in Cairo, 7 February 2022. © Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt

Abdelfattah al-Sisi's very personal diplomacy in the Horn

The Egyptian president snubbed an African Union summit and instead attended the Beijing Olympics in the company of his financial sponsor, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan. Sisi is continuing his strategy of encircling his Ethiopian rival and consolidating his position in Sudan and Djibouti.

Subscribers only Diplomacy Running story - The Renaissance Dam 14.02.2022

Covid-19 stalls Erdogan and MbZ's grand diplomatic designs

After catching Covid-19, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan was forced to cancel his trip planned on 14 February to Abu Dhabi, where he was hoping to discuss the conflicts in the Horn of Africa with Crown Prince MbZ

Subscribers only Diplomacy 11.02.2022

African Union special envoy Obasanjo's team takes shape at last

Until now, the former Nigerian president has been left to carry out his mission as Special Envoy of the AU to the Horn of Africa pretty much on his own, despite the numerous conflicts and political instability in the region.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 08.02.2022

The special envoy for the Horn of Africa, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Post-IOG prep leaking all over social media

A leaked conversation attributed to president Ismail Omar Guelleh has paralysed Djibouti's power and opened the way to succession struggles.

Subscribers only Politics 07.02.2022

Djibouti's President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh.

Spotlight
MbZ proposes diplomatic package to Sisi and Abiy ahead of AU summit

Ahead of the African Union summit to be held in Addis Ababa on 5-6 February, the UAE's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan has been busy trying to shape a role for the UAE as a mediator in the region.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 03.02.2022

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan.

Camp Mariama to become centre of cooperation with Western armed forces

At the instigation of Paris, Camp Mariama is gearing up to host joint military exercises involving the Djiboutian army and the many Western forces stationed in the country. A snub for China, which also has armed contingents deployed in Djibouti.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 03.02.2022

Beijing puts Djibouti at odds with West by helping equip its army

Beijing is pushing ahead with its policy of providing military equipment by donating 160 Dongfeng trucks to the army, having already supplied two vessels to the Djibouti navy last year. However, this strategy could be harmful to Djibouti, which is trying to realign itself with the West on both economic and security matters.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 28.01.2022

Spotlight
Afwerki's diplomatic blitz to mediate between Khartoum and Addis

With implicit support from the Emirates and with less than two weeks to prepare, the Eritrean president Isaias Afwerki took on the role of mediator between his neighbours. An initiative which could be seen as an act of defiance directed towards international institutions, and not least the UN, which has placed sanctions on Eritrea.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 27.01.2022

Sovereign Fund's management treads water

Following the dismissal of the managing director of the Sovereign Fund of Djibouti in the second quarter of 2021, the fund's board meetings have become a rarity and its management structure is hazy.

Subscribers only Finance, Politics 25.01.2022

Hit hard by the ongoing nearby conflict, Djibouti taxes free zones

The Djibouti budget for 2022, passed last December, contains several tax increases. The economy of the small port country has been hit hard by the combined consequences of Covid-19 and, in particular, the civil war in neighbouring Ethiopia.

Subscribers only Politics 18.01.2022

Djibouti establishment rattled by end of year drama

On 2 January the president dismissed his chief financial officer, Abdoulkarim Aden Cher, who had been in charge of this portfolio since 2019. The head of state had pinpointed Cher as a source of tension, and prefers to opt for one of his right-hand men.

Subscribers only Politics 11.01.2022

IOG continues to court Monaco's private sector

A joint delegation from the Monaco Economic Board (MEB) and the business association Club des entrepreneurs monégasques en Afrique (CEMA) is expected to visit Djibouti by the end of the year.

Subscribers only Business 04.01.2022

War in Ethiopia takes toll on Djibouti's economy

Djibouti, via which nearly 90% of Ethiopian imports transit, has been hit hard economically by the war, with freight from the coastal country to Ethiopia having fallen by 13% this year.

Subscribers only Business 24.12.2021

Tunisian ex-minister Slim Feriani takes over sovereign fund

Tunisian politician Slim Feriani will replace Mamadou Mbaye, dismissed in May following numerous disagreements with certain members of FSD's board.

Subscribers only Finance, Business 23.12.2021

Slim Feriani, new head of the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Djibouti (SDF).

Former Addis Ababa ambassador to advise foreign affairs minister

The former dean of ambassadors in Addis Ababa, Djibouti's Mohamed Idriss Farah, has just been appointed first adviser to Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 29.11.2021

French PM Castex to spend Christmas in the Horn

The French prime minister Jean Castex, who was in Chad last Christmas, will spend this year's celebration in Djibouti with France's 1500 troops based there.

Subscribers only Politics 22.11.2021

French Prime Minister Jean Castex spent New Year's Eve on January 31, 2020, in N'Djamena, Chad, with Barkhane soldiers.

Ethiopian war threatens Djibouti's cross-border trade

Fighting between Tigrayan forces and the Ethiopian army around one of the two main roads linking the small port country to its Ethiopian neighbour is posing a direct threat to cross-border trade, which is a vital part of the Djibouti economy.

Subscribers only Politics, Business 18.11.2021

Paris and Djibouti set to renew defence deal amid regional turmoil

French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly is due to travel to Djibouti on 21 November to discuss renewing the 10-year agreement that allows France to station troops there. Djibouti, which hosts seven foreign military contingents, is an island of stability in a region wracked by a coup in Sudan, the escalation of war in Ethiopia and political deadlock in Somalia.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 15.11.2021

French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly will visit Djibouti on November 21.

Djibouti forces brace for action as Ethiopia tension spirals

With its neighbour Ethiopia threatening to descend into chaos, Djibouti placed its gendarmerie and national police on high alert on 2 November.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 10.11.2021

Djibouti Gendarmerie Chief-of-Staff Colonel Zakaria Hassan Aden placed all his forces on red alert on 2 November 2021.

IOG fears Tigrayan advance in Ethiopia could lead to unrest in Djibouti

President Ismail Omar Guelleh ("IOG") is afraid that the Tigrayan forces' march on the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, could lead to a state of instability favourable to the Afar opposition in north western Djibouti.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 09.11.2021

Create a notification

Djibouti

Don't miss a single headline. Sign up to receive weekly summaries of our coverage of Djibouti.

Once registered, you will be notified by a short message on your computer or mobile phone as soon as a new edition of our publication or an alert is published. Stay informed anytime, anywhere!

Africa
Massad Boulos, a free agent of Donald Trump's African diplomacy under close watch

DRC
The Tshisekedi clan's dangerous ties with cobalt looting "cartels"

Djibouti

In Tigray, an uncertain lull

The failure of mediation over Tigray whets the appetites of Moscow and Beijing

Eiffage dips into hydropower along the gulf of Tadjoura

Having established links with Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, Hargeisa lobbies Washington for recognition

Security chiefs wade into IOG succession battle

Abdelfattah al-Sisi's very personal diplomacy in the Horn

Covid-19 stalls Erdogan and MbZ's grand diplomatic designs

African Union special envoy Obasanjo's team takes shape at last

Post-IOG prep leaking all over social media

Spotlight
MbZ proposes diplomatic package to Sisi and Abiy ahead of AU summit

Camp Mariama to become centre of cooperation with Western armed forces

Beijing puts Djibouti at odds with West by helping equip its army

Spotlight
Afwerki's diplomatic blitz to mediate between Khartoum and Addis

Sovereign Fund's management treads water

Hit hard by the ongoing nearby conflict, Djibouti taxes free zones

Djibouti establishment rattled by end of year drama

IOG continues to court Monaco's private sector

War in Ethiopia takes toll on Djibouti's economy

Tunisian ex-minister Slim Feriani takes over sovereign fund

Former Addis Ababa ambassador to advise foreign affairs minister

French PM Castex to spend Christmas in the Horn

Ethiopian war threatens Djibouti's cross-border trade

Paris and Djibouti set to renew defence deal amid regional turmoil

Djibouti forces brace for action as Ethiopia tension spirals

IOG fears Tigrayan advance in Ethiopia could lead to unrest in Djibouti

Create a notification

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Indigo Publications' websites

Africa Massad Boulos, a free agent of Donald Trump's African diplomacy under close watch

DRC The Tshisekedi clan's dangerous ties with cobalt looting "cartels"

Simandou, Nimba and Zogota: the long and difficult road to the start of iron ore production

Cabo Delgado: a gas Eldorado and security nightmare

The Renaissance Dam – a national symbol but a regional quandary

Andry Rajoelina

African Development Bank

Paul Biya

Erik Prince

AFRICOM

Djibouti

In Tigray, an uncertain lull

The failure of mediation over Tigray whets the appetites of Moscow and Beijing

Eiffage dips into hydropower along the gulf of Tadjoura

Having established links with Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, Hargeisa lobbies Washington for recognition

Security chiefs wade into IOG succession battle

Abdelfattah al-Sisi's very personal diplomacy in the Horn

Covid-19 stalls Erdogan and MbZ's grand diplomatic designs

African Union special envoy Obasanjo's team takes shape at last

Post-IOG prep leaking all over social media

Spotlight MbZ proposes diplomatic package to Sisi and Abiy ahead of AU summit

Camp Mariama to become centre of cooperation with Western armed forces

Beijing puts Djibouti at odds with West by helping equip its army

Spotlight Afwerki's diplomatic blitz to mediate between Khartoum and Addis

Sovereign Fund's management treads water

Hit hard by the ongoing nearby conflict, Djibouti taxes free zones

Djibouti establishment rattled by end of year drama

IOG continues to court Monaco's private sector

War in Ethiopia takes toll on Djibouti's economy

Tunisian ex-minister Slim Feriani takes over sovereign fund

Former Addis Ababa ambassador to advise foreign affairs minister

French PM Castex to spend Christmas in the Horn

Ethiopian war threatens Djibouti's cross-border trade

Paris and Djibouti set to renew defence deal amid regional turmoil

Djibouti forces brace for action as Ethiopia tension spirals

IOG fears Tigrayan advance in Ethiopia could lead to unrest in Djibouti

Create a notification

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Africa
Massad Boulos, a free agent of Donald Trump's African diplomacy under close watch

DRC
The Tshisekedi clan's dangerous ties with cobalt looting "cartels"

Spotlight
MbZ proposes diplomatic package to Sisi and Abiy ahead of AU summit

Spotlight
Afwerki's diplomatic blitz to mediate between Khartoum and Addis