2024-02-12 01:44:21
President of Djibouti: We are following developments in the Red Sea… and we refuse to target any part of our territory
Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh confirmed that his country is closely following the recent developments in the Bab al-Mandab region and the Gulf of Aden, and is keen to secure the Red Sea and the strategic strait and remove obstacles to international trade.
President Guelleh spoke in an extensive dialogue with Asharq Al-Awsat from his presidential headquarters about coordination and cooperation with the major powers, including the United States, France, Britain, and the countries bordering the Red Sea, led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to protect maritime navigation, combat terrorism, and confront the security challenges that are troubling the region and the entire world.
Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh during his speech to Asharq Al-Awsat (Photo by: Turki Al-Aqili)
The President stressed Djibouti’s refusal to target any party from its territory, noting that the international military bases in the country aim to maintain international peace and security, combat terrorism and maritime piracy, and protect navigation in this important strategic location in the world.
The President also touched on many important files, including China’s Silk Road project and its impact on the Horn of Africa region, and the policy of neutrality pursued by Djibouti with the presence of military bases, and other topics, so on to the details of the dialogue..
Djibouti’s relations with Saudi Arabia
* Mr. President, how do you describe Djiboutian-Saudi relations at the present time, the level of coordination between the two countries, and the prospects for its development, especially in the areas of economic and political cooperation?
– Firstly, I praise Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper and its pioneering role in the field of media and its continued interest in enlightening the Arab reader about what is happening in the world, especially in our region. As for the Djiboutian-Saudi relations, they are strong and deeply rooted, and since Djibouti’s independence in 1977, these relations have continued to grow stronger and more harmonious. In political visions towards various regional and international issues.
Continuing cooperation and coordination is evident in several committees, including the security and military committees, and the joint Djiboutian-Saudi committee, which represents a general framework under which bilateral cooperation between the two countries falls in various fields, in addition to the existence of a joint council for Djiboutian and Saudi businessmen. Since 2008, about 30 agreements and memorandums of understanding have been signed between the two countries in various fields.
Based on the tremendous development we have achieved over the past two decades in the field of ports in terms of quantity and quality, we look forward to strengthening cooperation between the two brotherly countries in the field of maritime transport, logistics services and ports.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh in Riyadh last December (SPA)
Work is currently underway to establish joint projects in the field of direct sea and air transport, and to establish a free zone and warehouses for Saudi exports and products within the international free trade zone in Djibouti, which will contribute to enhancing the flow of Saudi exports to the African continent.
* How can Djibouti play a role in developing Arab-African relations as a bridge between the two sides?
The geographical location on the southern western bank of the Red Sea, about 25 kilometers from brotherly Yemen, makes the Republic of Djibouti a vital bridge linking the continent of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. This geographical advantage of our country would contribute to the development of Arab-African relations, and play a prominent role in protecting Arab national security.
On the economic level, the Republic of Djibouti is a gateway to the IGAD and COMESA countries on the Red Sea, in addition to the advanced infrastructure in Djibouti’s ports, all of which are factors that contribute greatly to the development of Arab-African relations in the economic field.
Red Sea file
* How do you follow the recent developments in Bab al-Mandab, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, given Djibouti’s strategic location close to this region?
– We are closely following the recent developments near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and we are keen to secure the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait and remove obstacles to international trade. Therefore, we see the necessity of resolving the various crises in the region and coming together at various regional and international levels in order to maintain the security and safety of navigation in the Red Sea.
We also follow with great concern the war that has been ongoing since October 2023 in Gaza, and as we have expressed on more than one occasion, we affirm our strong rejection of the siege that our brothers in Gaza are subjected to in terms of siege, barbaric killing, and terrifying destruction of infrastructure, and we call on the international community to assume its responsibilities and provide protection for the people. The defenseless Palestinian who is subjected to the worst types of killing and forced displacement.
* Do you have coordination with your allies in the region and the world to protect navigation in the Red Sea?
The Republic of Djibouti overlooks the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which has great strategic, economic and political importance for global trade. This makes it a pivotal country in the efforts made to maintain international security and stability. We coordinate and cooperate with major powers such as the United States, France, and Britain, as well as the countries bordering the Red Sea, especially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. And others to protect maritime navigation, combat terrorism, and confront the security challenges that are troubling the region and the entire world.
The international military bases in Djibouti are just some aspects of cooperation in maintaining international peace and security, combating terrorism and maritime piracy, and protecting navigation in this important strategic location in the world.
* What is your vision for easing tension and reducing escalation in this region, which constitutes a major artery for the passage of global trade and energy resources?
Our vision is to cooperate at various regional and international levels in order to protect the security of the Red Sea and secure navigation in it to ensure smooth maritime transport through this very important region.
* In your opinion, how do you see the role of the Forum of Countries bordering the Red Sea and its importance in such crises?
– The Republic of Djibouti is one of the first countries to ratify the establishment of the Council of Arab and African States overlooking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, which includes, in addition to Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, Jordan and Eritrea, out of our awareness of its great importance and the need of the countries of this region for an entity that brings them together and plays an important role in Coordination and cooperation between them in various fields.
We proposed early on that the headquarters of this council be in the sister Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, given that it was the first to initiate initiatives with the idea of a Red Sea security system since 1956. Given that the Saudi coast overlooking the Red Sea is the longest among the other countries bordering the Red Sea, it is Here, it is more vulnerable to the dangers of what is happening along this sea, in addition to the fact that this nascent council was a Saudi proposal that was welcomed by the member states.
Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh during his attendance at the 42nd special session of the IGAD organization in Uganda last January (Reuters)
I believe that the importance of this council increases in current crises, which makes the cooperation of the countries bordering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden an urgent necessity to secure this important region. Hence, we call for the activation and launch of this council to keep pace with developments in the region. Given what we observed during the consultations to establish the Council of enthusiasm and readiness among member states, the opportunities available to this Council to perform the tasks assigned to it are many, and everyone knows that the region is surrounded by many challenges, including extremism, terrorism, and illegal immigration, and that they can be overcome through global and regional solidarity.
* There was an American request to install a missile platform to target the Houthis, and it was rejected by Djibouti. How do you deal with the repercussions of the Gaza crisis and the attacks in the Red Sea?
Our position is clear, which is to refuse to target any party from our lands. This is a sovereign matter that we adhere to, but at the same time we call for cooperation and solidarity in order to solve the crises in the region.
* How do you see the role of Djibouti and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in achieving stability and reducing tension in this vital region? Are there joint initiatives for cooperation in areas such as security, trade and energy?
– As we have emphasized on more than one occasion, the Republic of Djibouti is a pivotal country in protecting the security of the Red Sea by virtue of its strategic location on the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. It enjoys balanced relations with various brotherly and friendly countries and a good reputation for stability and fostering peace in a turbulent region, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a sister country. It is pivotal by virtue of its religious status in addition to its political and economic weight. The two brotherly countries have joint cooperation in many areas, including security, trade, and energy. There is no doubt that this bilateral cooperation has an important role in achieving stability in this vital region.
Somalia – Ethiopia
* How does Djibouti view the recent agreement announced between Ethiopia and Somaliland and its repercussions on the Horn of Africa region?
Somalia and Ethiopia are members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, IGAD, as well as the African Union. It is known that the charters of both organizations stipulate the necessity of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states. Djibouti, in its capacity as president of the current session of IGAD, affirms its adherence to the independence and sovereignty of member states and the integrity of their territories, and we are deeply concerned about The crisis between neighboring Somalia and Ethiopia is escalating, and we call on them to end the dispute through dialogue. We believe that our region cannot bear more crises, and therefore we must focus on economic integration and development, and this can only be achieved through dialogue and coordination between the countries concerned.
Sudanese file
* Djibouti, as a member of IGAD, is making great efforts to stop the conflict in Sudan. Where have your efforts reached in this regard?
The sister Republic of Sudan is a founding member of IGAD and is a pivotal country in the organization, and therefore its stability is important for the region and the world. From this standpoint, since the outbreak of war in Sudan on April 15, 2023, we hastened to adopt an initiative calling for an immediate halt to the fighting and bringing the two parties to the conflict to the negotiating table. The Republic of Djibouti now chairs the current session of the organization, and we are making intensive and continuous efforts in coordination with other member states and the international community in order to find a solution to the ongoing conflict in this brotherly country.
We received in Djibouti representatives of the parties to the crisis in Sudan in order to listen to their views and vision for the solution, and everyone affirmed their desire to end the war immediately given its serious repercussions on the country and the capabilities of the Sudanese people. We will continue our efforts to stop the war and we are optimistic that these efforts will lead to a permanent stop. It is unconditional to open fire and reach solutions that will bring the brotherly Sudanese people out of their difficult crisis. Sudan is an important country with its Arab and African weight, and there is no doubt that its current crisis is negatively affecting the stability of the Horn of Africa region and neighboring countries. Therefore, we stress the necessity of ending the war and sparing this brotherly country the risk of sliding into civil war. We hope that everyone will respond to international appeals to end this war.
The President of the Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council meets the Secretary of IGAD in Djibouti at the end of 2023 (Sovereignty Council Media)
* What are the most important files on the table of the African Summit that will be held on February 17th, and what are your expectations for its results?
The upcoming African summit will be held in light of difficult conditions in some African countries, and the countries of the Horn of Africa in particular, and it is expected that the most prominent thorny files and current crises, as well as various influential geopolitical developments, will top the summit’s agenda.
Military bases in Djibouti
* Djibouti pursues a policy of neutrality in the Horn of Africa region, yet there are several military bases for a number of major countries. What is the importance of these bases for Djibouti?
– The Republic of Djibouti pursues a policy of neutrality in the Horn of Africa region and in the world, and enjoys balanced relations with all brotherly and friendly countries, and this is a policy on which the principles of the Republic have been based since the dawn of independence in 1977. With regard to hosting international military bases on Djiboutian territory, this falls within the balanced approach in dealing with With various countries within a framework that takes into account national sovereignty. We have stressed on more than one occasion that these military bases come within the framework of cooperation and coordination to combat terrorism, extremism, and maritime piracy, and to secure navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and in accordance with bilateral agreements between the Republic of Djibouti and the country to which the base belongs.
It is known that this region is threatened by several risks, including terrorism, extremism, and piracy, in addition to its influence and being affected by a number of conflicts in the region. Hence, the important role of these military bases in protecting the security of the Red Sea region is evident, which is a vital strategic region that connects the continents of the world and through which a large proportion of international trade passes, and this necessitates international cooperation in securing it.
*But how do you deal with the concerns of neighboring countries regarding the presence of these bases?
– We have not received any concerns from neighboring countries in this regard. Are there really concerns?!
* How can Djibouti reconcile in bringing together two opposites on its soil, the United States and China, with military bases within close proximity to each other?
– As I said, we enjoy balanced relations with various major powers, and we have the right to cooperate or conclude agreements with any of them within the framework of sovereignty and national interest. This approach is proof that we can coexist if there is a desire to do so. The international military bases in Djibouti are primarily directed towards cooperation in maintaining the security of the Red Sea region, the Gulf of Aden, and the continent of Africa in general. Many countries that have military bases in Djibouti confirm their interest in protecting their commercial and investment interests. Accordingly, the American and Chinese bases fall within the common goals aimed at securing international navigation in the region and combating terrorism, extremism, and other matters that destabilize international stability.
* What is your country’s position on securing the Silk Road project announced by China and a number of countries in the region?
The Chinese “Belt and Road” project is commercial in nature, and the strategic location of the Republic of Djibouti places it at the heart of this giant project. We value Chinese investments in our country, including the high-speed train linking the capital, Djibouti, to Addis Ababa, as well as Beijing’s contribution to the international free trade zone in Djibouti, which is the largest free trade zone on the continent of Africa. We believe that China has the ability to accelerate economic growth through its giant investment initiative in the countries through which the Silk Road passes.
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