Chinese and Dubai Companies Battle To Operate Djiboutian Port

Quartz Africa posted on 28 February 2019 an article titled "A Legal Tussle Over a Strategic African Port Sets Up a Challenge for China's Belt and Road Plan" by Abdi Latif Dahir.

Dubai's DP World until recently operated Djibouti's Doraleh Container Terminal. A year ago, Djibouti seized control of the port from DP World. China Merchants Port Holdings, the Hong Kong-based subsidiary of the state-owned conglomerate, China Merchants Group, held a 23.5 percent stake in the port and has been given increased operational authority by Djibouti over the port. The issue is now in a Hong Kong court but the dispute raises questions about the ultimate intentions of this Chinese company and control of the port.

Chinese Company Taken to Court over Djibouti Port Project

Factwire posted on 12 February 2019 an article titled "Legal Battle for Control of Djibouti Ports Comes to Hong Kong."

China Merchant and Port Holdings has been accused of infringing a port agreement of the United Arab Emirates' DP World with Djibouti. The case will be heard in Hong Kong and offers an example of the legal risk that Chinese companies face as they pursue the Belt and Road Initiative.

China Challenges US in Djibouti

The Washington Post published on 27 September 2018 a commentary titled "China Challenging the U.S. in the Horn of Africa--and Washington Is Silent" by Josh Rogin.

The author argues that as China builds up its military presence in Djibouti, where the United States also has a military base, the US government "so far, seems unwilling or unable to confront the problem."

How Djibouti Became China's Gateway to Africa

Spiegel Online posted on 8 February 2018 an article titled "How Djibouti Became China's Gateway to Africa" by Dietmar Pieper.

The author suggests that Djibouti is fast becoming China's gateway to Africa. It is establishing China's first overseas military base and constructing Africa's largest free trade zone in Djibouti. The country is serving as a laboratory for the global shift in power from the West to the East.

Djibouti Steps Up Ties with China

The South China Morning Post published on 21 November 2017 an article titled "From Rail and Airports To Its First Overseas Naval Base, China Zeroes in on Tiny Djibouti" by Kinling Lo.

Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh is making a state visit to China this week. This follows the signing last week of a memorandum of understanding with a Chinese company to invest $4 billion in a natural gas project to build a liquefaction plant and pipeline that will bring gas from Ethiopia's Ogaden region to Djibouti for export. China has other major infrastructure projects in Djibouti that include an airport, port, free trade zone, railway to Addis Ababa, and a military base.

Djibouti Hopes to Replicate Singapore

Gulf News published on 22 July 2017 an article titled "Africa's Singapore Is Slowly Taking Shape" by Bashir Goth, commentator on African affairs.

The author argues that Djibouti's strategic location accounts for its massive infrastructure projects, mainly from China, and interest by other countries such as the United States. Suggesting that Djibouti will one day reach the developmental level of Singapore, however, seems a stretch.

China Becoming Primary Supporter of Djibouti

World Politics Review published on 23 June 2017 an analysis titled "Is China Really Willing to Shoulder Risks of its Djibouti Foray?" by Cameron Reed, research assistant on the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.

China is completing a military facility in and has become Djibouti's biggest investor. It holds billions of dollars in loans to Djibouti while Djibouti faces growing human rights challenges. Although the United States, France and Japan also have military bases in Djibouti, China is assuming the role of President Ismail Omar Guelleh's primary protector.

Djibouti: Interview with President Guelleh (in French)

Jeune Afrique published on 4 April 2017 a long and fascinating interview titled "Ismail Omar Guelleh: Personne d'autre que les Chinois n'offre an partenariat a long terme a Djibouti" that covers relations with key countries and internal developments.

France, the US, Japan and now China all have military bases in Djibouti. President Guelleh discusses the challenges these bases pose for Djiboutian relations with these and other countries. The president is especially positive about Djiboutian relations with China, commenting that "the reality is that no one but the Chinese offers a long-term partnership in Djibouti."

Djibouti President Worries Africa Will Become Low Priority for US

The Voice of America ran on 12 January 2017 a brief article titled "Djibouti President Doubts Africa Will Be High on Trump Agenda" by Mohamed Olad Hassan.

The article quotes Djibouti President Ismail Omar Gulleh as saying "Africa does not appear on the foreign agenda of the U.S. president-elect, Donald Trump, but as Djibouti, we had a good and deep relationship with U.S. government which I am hopeful will continue."

Djibouti: Are the People Benefiting from Foreign Largesse?

Chatham House published on 15 April 2016 a commentary titled "Djibouti's People Have Yet to Benefit from Its Growing Importance" by Ahmed Soliman, Chatham House, and David Styan, University of London. 

The authors conclude that Djibouti's regional ambition and activism is yet to be matched by either internal political reforms or domestic employment policies. 

Upcoming Elections in Djibouti

The Africa Research Institute recently published a brief background piece that focuses on the presidential elections in Djibouti scheduled for 8 April 2016.  The political opposition has threatened to boycott them.  The author is Aden Omar Abdillahi. 

Two Members of Congress Take Aim at Djibouti President

Foreign Policy published on 16 February 2016 a piece titled "China Setting Up Shop Next to Key U.S. Drone Base in Africa" by Paul McLeary. 

It reports that two members of Congress sent a letter to the secretary of defense and secretary of state arguing that Washington should reconsider its support of the Ismail Omar Guelleh government in Djibouti.  One of the concerns expressed by the two members of Congress is the establishment by China of a military facility in Djibouti, which also hosts a large American military base. 

Analysis of Djibouti’s presidential election

There is little commentary in English on developments in Djibouti, a close ally of both France and the United States.

After Djibouti’s parliament removed term limits from the constitution, President Ismail Omar Guelleh won a third term in April with 80 percent of the vote.

The principal opposition party boycotted the election, and Guelleh only faced a late entry independent candidate. His reelection means that Djibouti has been governed by the same family and party since independence more than 30 years ago.

Writing for Consultancy Africa, Madie Schutte prepared a brief analysis of the election and its implications for the future of Djibouti.

The analysis takes into account political protests in Djibouti earlier this year related to the “Arab spring” in North Africa and the Middle East and suggests these developments could create tensions in Djibouti and become a factor in the stability of the state.