Djibouti accuses United Arab Emirates of advancing Military Expansion in the Horn of Africa
In fiery remarks, the President of Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh accused the United Arab Emirates of exploiting its economic investments in the Horn of Africa to strengthen its military presence.
President Guelleh claimed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) threatens the ‘strategic and security balance,’ in the region.
The statement came during his speech at the Regional Security Forum in Djibouti, attended by African and international representatives.
The Djiboutian President pointed out that the UAE uses infrastructure projects, such as ports and roads, as a means to impose its military influence, citing the example of Berbera Port in Somaliland, which is managed by an Emirati company and is suspected of being used for military purposes.
He also mentioned that Djibouti had previously rejected a UAE request to establish a military base on its territory, prompting Abu Dhabi to turn to neighbouring countries such as Eritrea and Somalia.
President Guelleh accuses the UAE of supporting separatist entities in Somalia, such as Somaliland and Puntland, by funding and training security forces, exacerbating internal divisions in the region.
The Djibouti leader expressed concern that the UAE’s expansion in managing Somali ports could undermine the importance of Djibouti Port, which is vital to his country’s economy, especially after Ethiopia (Djibouti’s main trade partner) shifted toward alternative ports in Eritrea with Emirati assistance.
But in a broader Regional Context, the UAE is a key player in the Horn of Africa through multiple tools, including economic investments (such as port management), military support (such as training local forces), and humanitarian aid.
The rivalry between Djibouti and the UAE is seen as part of a wider conflict between regional powers (including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar) and international players (the United States and China) over control of strategic maritime routes, such as the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The UAE has not yet issued an official response, but diplomatic sources suggested that Abu Dhabi views Djibouti’s criticisms as ‘an attempt to mask its failure’ in managing competition with its neighbours.
These statements are expected to escalate bilateral tensions, especially amid ongoing disputes over port contracts and the UAE’s military presence in Eritrea and Somalia.
The roots of tension between the two countries date back to 2015, when Djibouti terminated a contract with DP World to manage the Doraleh Port.
That led to a diplomatic and economic crisis between the two sides.