Djibouti and Ethiopia: Strategic Brotherhood in the Face of External Pressures
Photo: Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh receives his counterpart, Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed AliBy: Charilogone Editorial Team
In the Horn of Africa, Egypt has intensified its diplomatic maneuvers to pressure Djibouti into reducing its partnerships with Ethiopia and to promote anti-Ethiopian political propaganda on the international stage. By aligning with Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan, Cairo seeks to hinder Ethiopia’s major development projects – among them the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the railway and logistics corridors linking Ethiopia to Djiboutian ports, as well as energy and industrial investments.
However, Djibouti remains firm in its position: far from yielding to external pressures, the country favors the logic of good neighborliness and continues to strengthen its strategic relations with its historic partner, Ethiopia.
The official visit of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali to Djibouti on January 11, 2023, illustrates this orientation. Warmly welcomed by President Ismail Omar Guelleh, Abiy Ahmed held a bilateral meeting at the Presidential Palace. Discussions focused on reinforcing ties of friendship and cooperation, accelerating ongoing bilateral projects, and preparing for the next joint ministerial commission scheduled for January 2026.
President Guelleh praised Abiy Ahmed as “a brother and an enlightened leader,” while the Ethiopian Prime Minister described Djibouti and its President as “precious allies.” The visit was marked by an official luncheon and a tour of Djibouti’s port infrastructure, underscoring the strategic importance of economic and logistical exchanges between the two nations.
This meeting demonstrates Djibouti’s determination to consolidate its partnership with Ethiopia despite external pressures. It also confirms Djibouti’s role as a pragmatic actor and logistical hub in the region, prioritizing stability and shared prosperity with its neighbor.
The visit of the Ethiopian Prime Minister also reflects Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s vision of reassuring the Djiboutian President and his people that Ethiopia will always stand by their side. It emphasizes that Djibouti is a country of global strategic importance and must not allow itself to be influenced by external pressures that could compromise its long-term interests and stability.
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