Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi was in Djibouti on Thursday as he continues a five-nation tour of the continent, with a stop to meet President Ismail Omar Guelleh in what is the home of one of China’s most strategic investments in Africa. Guelleh said China confirmed a commitment to back…
The United States is reviewing a plan to withdraw nearly all American counterterrorism forces from African countries, the New York Times reported on Sunday. Three Defense Department officials told the Times that if the plans are approved by U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis, the U.S. would shut down seven…
Djibouti has pushed back against what it called “mercilessly pillorying” over speculation that the strategically located Doraleh Container Terminal (DCT) – seized from former operator DP World by its government last month – could be used to expand China’s footprint in the Horn of Africa while threatening United States interests….
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind began a state visit to Djibouti on Tuesday, his first such trip since taking office in July and the first such high-level meeting since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries. Kovind was welcomed on his arrival by Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, before making…
China has formally opened its new military base in Djibouti, with a national flag ceremony and a military parade held at the barracks near the port city of Obock. The ceremony marked the arrival of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops at the base, following a journey that began July 11…
Drought and famine are contributing to an uptick in piracy off the Horn of Africa, according to remarks made by the American general in command of Africa during a weekend visit to Djibouti. “There have in the last month been four or five, maybe six piracy attacks here in the…