Djibouti: Changing Influence in the Horn's Strategic Hub
Briefing Paper
David Styan, April 2013
Download paper here
<
http://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/public/Research/Africa/0413
bp_djibouti.pdf>
* Change in Djibouti's economic and strategic options has been driven
by four factors: the Ethiopian-Eritrean war of 1998-2000, the impact of
Ethiopia's economic transformation and growth upon trade; shifts in US
strategy since 9/11, and the upsurge in piracy along the Gulf of Aden and
Somali coasts.
* With the expansion of the US AFRICOM base, the reconfiguration of
France's military presence and the establishment of Japanese and other
military facilities, Djibouti has become an international maritime and
military laboratory where new forms of cooperation are being developed.
* Djibouti has accelerated plans for regional economic integration.
Building on close ties with Ethiopia, existing port upgrades and electricity
grid integration will be enhanced by the development of the northern port of
Tadjourah.
* These strategic and economic shifts have yet to be matched by
internal political reforms, and growth needs to be linked to strategies for
job creation and a renewal of domestic political legitimacy.
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Received on Thu Apr 18 2013 - 21:42:11 EDT
