Voice of Djibouti

QUARTZ 10 April 2019 by ABDI LATIF DAHIR A London court has delivered the latest verdict in the battle to manage one of Africa’s most strategic ports. The Court of International Arbitration, which helps to resolve international commercial disputes, has ruled that Djibouti breached the rights of Dubai port operator DP World to manage the Doraleh Container Terminal when it ended a 30-year concession...

BLOOMBERG 11 April 2019 by NIZAR MANEK Djibouti cancelled China Civil Engineering contract in 2017 Potential loan for $420 million will be repaid over 15 years Djibouti Photographer: Carl De Souza/AFP via Getty Images A syndicate of European banks are in talks to finance a new airport in Djibouti after the government canceled a contract awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction...

THE PRINT 11 April 2019 by COL. VINAYAK BHAT (RETD) Satellite imagery showing an underwater blast | Col. Vinayak Bhat (retd) /ThePrint New Delhi: China’s first overseas military base, in the east African nation of Djibouti, is a mega fortress that has been in the works for some years now. The main base is now complete, with a heliport, ammunition depot and an automated chain supply system in place. But...

THE AFRICA REPORT 8 April 2019 Djibouti is in the midst of a port and rail spending spree estimated at over $12bn, and the US and France are not happy about it. The strategic fight over control of global shipping lines comes into sharp focus in the tiny Horn of Africa state, Nizar Manek of Bloomberg reports in a deep dive into Djibouti’s Chinese infrastructure lending. “About a third of all...

CAJ NEWS AFRICA 9 April 2019 by SAID ABOUBAKER DP World DJIBOUTI, (CAJ News) – A London court has awarded Dubai firm DP World $385m in compensation after the government of Djibouti cancelled the company’s contract to run one of Africa’s most strategic harbours. Measured as a share of gross domestic product – the amount equals one fifth of the nation’s annual economy – analysts believe...

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...