Djibouti has officially turned down a high-level Ethiopian proposal seeking exclusive access to the Port of Tadjourah and the right to establish a naval base, signaling firm resistance to what it views as overreach into its sovereignty.
President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh confirmed that Ethiopia had requested a cross-border corridor with special status and permission for naval deployment. “This went far beyond the scope of any previous agreements,” Guelleh stated, emphasizing that Djibouti had closed the matter.
The refusal comes as Ethiopia, a landlocked country with growing strategic ambitions, intensifies its search for stable maritime access. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s earlier statements about sea access had raised alarm in neighboring states. Djibouti’s move aligns with broader efforts to assert control over its strategic infrastructure and resist external pressure.
President Guelleh noted that Ethiopia already benefits from multiple maritime routes—including ports in Djibouti, Berbera (Somaliland), Assab (Eritrea), and Mogadishu (Somalia)—without requiring ownership or militarized control.
Regional observers highlight the significance of Turkey’s quiet diplomatic mediation in reducing recent frictions between Addis Ababa and Djibouti. “We’ve told Ethiopia directly: Djibouti is not Crimea,” Guelleh remarked.
This is not the first time Djibouti has pushed back against what it considers foreign overreach. In 2018, it terminated a major port deal with DP World, sparking an international arbitration ruling in the company’s favor—one Djibouti continues to resist. Guelleh accused the firm of pursuing destabilizing policies across the region.
Djibouti’s stance reflects a growing assertion of national sovereignty among smaller Horn of Africa states, amid increasing competition from larger powers and external investors. The rejection of Ethiopia’s bid is likely to resonate in other regional capitals wary of similar overtures.