Alwaght- The race in Africa is a struggle over the resources of the black continent, but story of Djibouti is different, as the state essentially has not much natural and energy resources. But its biggest privilege is its geopolitical position.
The Republic of Djibouti is a tiny state with 24,000 square kilometers of size and population of 960,000, located in extreme east of Africa. The country borders Eritrea from the north, Ethiopia from the south and west, and Somalia from the southeast.
Djibouti, only 20 kilometers of sea width separating it from Yemen and especially the war-ravaged Yemeni provinces, over the past three years of the Saudi-led war on Yemen has been hosting large numbers of Yemeni refugees crossing the sea for safety.
The country has a very weak army, with its personnel less than 20,000 in number, a status making it practically unable to take part in any military campaign. The country’s proximity to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait makes it the gate of East Africa.
Geopolitical position
Djibouti is overlooking the strategically significant Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The country’s position offers it access to the Gulf of Aden and makes it important and the point of focus of influence-seeking countries.
Bab-el-Mandeb is one of the world’s major sea gates, with a width of 32 kilometers, linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. The coasts of the sea gate are the Yemeni, Eritrean, and Djiboutian territories. The Strait gained global trade significance since Suez Canal of Egypt, linking the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, was opened in 1869. The Egyptian sea gate facilitates voyage of the oil tankers sailing from oil-rich Persian Gulf region to the Mediterranean Sea.
According to the statistics, between 5 and 6 percent of the global oil production passes through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait towards Suze Canal and from there to various parts of the world. Further data suggest that annually some 21,000 merchant ships sail through Bab-el-Mandeb. So, the sensitive position of Djibouti in the Horn of Africa and Bab-el-Mandeb, as well as closeness to Eritrea and Somalia, make it occupy a special place in different countries' strategic policies.
Djibouti significance in regional rivalry
Djibouti leaders' fear from the big neighbors make them adopt two approaches: Embarking on a policy of neutrality in the Horn of Africa issues and developing friendly relations with the Israeli regime and also France as a transregional power in a bid to show commitment to a sort of regional balance.
The country cherishes warm ties with Tel Aviv, Washington, and the European Union to guarantee its national security and sovereignty. The German fleet and French military bases operated very actively since the 9/11 attacks in the early 2000s. China also is trying not to fall behind and recently started constructing military base on a Djiboutian island hired by Beijing according to a 2016 deal. Recently, China sent a fleet of warships with personnel to Djibouti to serve in the base.
Djibouti's place on the coasts of the Red Sea gives it importance in the eyes of the countries seeking to secure their merchant fleet or military presence in the vicinity of the Red Sea. Because of political and military weakness, the country is highly susceptible to influence. Another point making Djibouti coming to the focus is its access to the international waters on the one hand and land access to the Central African states on the other hand.
The Israeli regime is one of the main parties striving to get a foothold in East Africa region due to its extreme reliance on the Red Sea. Israeli regime's strong presence in this sea is highly dependent on gaining weight in East African states, particularly Djibouti which is linked territorially to Bab-el-Mandeb. In fact, the Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandeb stand as part of the Israeli security environment. Tel Aviv’s crude oil imports and products exports from the Port of Ilat all require sustainable security of the two Egyptian and Yemeni straits. That is why Israelis put much more effort than other actors to build ground for influence in East Africa.
China is also another party which over the last decade pressed for influence in East Africa. In November 2015, the US general David Rodriguez, the commander of US Africa Command, said that Beijing had signed a 10-year lease for a Djiboutian logistics base, describing it as China’s first “military location” on the continent and adding it would “extend their reach.” Military presence of Beijing in the Horn of Africa can be of remarkable benefits to China.
Djibouti’s links to the oil-rich and geopolitically important West Asia region through its strategic Port of Abouk on the one side can secure sustainable energy flow to the energy-thirsty China and on the side can facilitate the timely reaction of Beijing to the Western Asian and North African developments. China has carried out several projects in Djibouti which won it strong position in the African nation. China in 2016 finished the Djibouti-Addis Ababa railroad worth of $4 billion. The US, too, gives special attention to this tiny Africa state for its Bab-el-Mandeb position. The only publicly known American military base in Africa is located in Djibouti.
Moreover, Djibouti was one of the countries with relatively friendly relations with Iran. But after the Yemen war, the Saudi dollars allured the Djibouti government into severing ties with Tehran in solidarity with the Riyadh’s regional alliance. In fact, the Iran-Saudi regional competition for influence and the Yemen war motivates Riyadh to get closer to Djibouti.
Recently, the Saudi row over toehold in southern Yemen with the United Arab Emirates sparked Djibouti’s reaction against Abu Dhabi. The government of Djibouti on Thursday seized control of a container terminal operated by United Arab Emirates-based DP World, saying that the contract between the two parties was damaging the sovereignty of Djibouti. The government said it nationalized the terminal. The DP World won a 30-year concession in 2006 to operate the DCT, which opened in 2009.
Djibouti also reduced its diplomatic ties with Qatar following the last year’s row between Riyadh and Doha.
Enjoying unique geopolitical position in Horn of Africa, Djibouti has become highly attractive to international powers, to an extent that it has now turned into an effective pawn in the regional and international actor’s race for influence.
