Voice of Djibouti

13 March 2019 As China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) reaches its fifth year, tales of corruption are plaguing the scheme. The BRI has focused on strategically located countries, rich in natural resources and with weak political institutions. China has exploited corrupt regimes’ desire for investment, facilitating and protecting corrupt regimes. Beijing’s lack of regard for international...

TIMES OF OMAN 23 March 2019 The main objective of this MoA is to set the framework that will enable the two institutions to further discussion on ways to make the cooperation more concrete. – Supplied picture Muscat: The State General Reserve Fund (SGRF) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority, in the presence of Ismail Omar Guelleh, President...

AFRICA CENTER FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES 22 March 2019 by PAUL NANTULYA China’s Belt and Road Initiative forges intertwining economic, political, and security ties between Africa and China, advancing Beijing’s geopolitical interests. The Chinese-built Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway. (Photo: Skilla1st) Launched in 2014, One Belt One Road (一带一路), presented internationally as the Belt and...

EJINSIGHT – ON THE PULSE 25 March 2019 by SIMON SHEN Members of China’s People’s Liberation Army board a vessel in Djibouti. Photo: Reuters One reason I have for visiting East African countries is to find out more about Africa’s significance as a strategic base in the context of China’s Belt and Road policy. There are traces of Chinese enterprises everywhere as we approach...

AFRICA TIMES 20 March 2019 China is again denying any untoward economic goals in Djibouti and other African nations, as Beijing gets set to host the next Belt and Road Initiative forum in April. Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Geng Shuang, speaking at Wednesday’s daily press briefing, responded to questions on how China’s investment in Djibouti is “expanding its global influence”...

BBC NEWS 9 January 2019 by KUMAR MALHOTRA Foreign military personnel inspect equipment at a Russian defence show Russia’s recent activities in Sudan and the Central African Republic have been the subject of intense speculation. That’s because along with renewed economic ties, private Russian military contractors are reported to have been active in both countries. This is particularly...

BBC NEWS 9 January 2019 People come to Adigrat to stock up on all sorts of items The sun had just risen but the market in Adigrat was already coming alive when I went to visit. Dozens of makeshift stalls lined the street where a group of women traders were sifting chickpeas. In another place an elderly man was removing chickens from cages and placing them outside his shop. You can buy almost anything...

HORSEED MEDIA 8 January 2019 Danish shipping line services MAERSK has begun operating in Somali’s Mogadishu Port. Mogadishu Port management announced that the shipping company started operations at the port on Saturday last week. The port administration said on this was a major development for their port and will create both business and employment for the people of Somalia. In a statement, the...

CHATHAM HOUSE 8 January 2019 by DR ALEX VINES OBE Xi Jinping at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing in September 2018. Photo: Getty Images. There is no doubt that 2019 will see a quickening of renewed international competition in Africa. China is now Africa’s leading trading partner and India, Russia and others are increasing their involvement, whereas the European Union is treading...

DAILY NATION 8 January 2019 Somaliand President Mouse Bihi holding talks with UK’s Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson at the presidential palace in Hargeisa, Somaliand, at the weekend. PHOTO | COURTESY In Summary UK keen on building new military bases around the world after Brexit. Russia wants a 1,500 man base to support its warships and hunter-killer submarines. The United Arab Emirates is...