Djibouti’s Council of Ministers has approved a new defense cooperation treaty with France, renewing and expanding military ties between the two countries for the next two decades. The agreement, which is set to be submitted to Djibouti’s Parliament for ratification, will be in force from 2025 to 2045. It marks a notable moment in France’s shifting Africa policy, as the country redirects its strategic focus from West to East Africa following major setbacks in the Sahel region.
The treaty, signed in Paris on July 24, 2024, by President Emmanuel Macron and Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh, replaces a previous agreement from 2011. Among its most significant provisions is the return of 40 percent of the Héron islet—currently used by French forces—to Djibouti by 2026. France has also committed to increasing its annual compensation to Djibouti, with a payment of €85 million, exempt from local taxes.
For the first time, this kind of agreement will be submitted to elected representatives in Djibouti for approval. This move, reportedly encouraged by France, reflects a desire to legitimize its military partnerships in Africa through more transparent and democratic processes.
The agreement reaffirms France’s commitment to support Djibouti’s territorial integrity and includes provisions for airspace surveillance, maritime policing, and military capacity building. France will continue to provide training, equipment, and military healthcare services to Djibouti’s armed forces. French troops will also maintain legal protections, including exclusive disciplinary jurisdiction and exemptions from local taxation and social security contributions.
French forces will retain operational mobility and control over military installations in Djibouti, with a clause preventing the transfer of those sites to any third-party state. A permanent alert mechanism and a joint strategic committee will be set up to coordinate security responses and monitor regional threats.
The treaty includes a medical assistance provision allowing French military doctors to treat both soldiers and civilians in exceptional circumstances. The €85 million annual financial package is detailed in a separate annex and will be reviewed periodically, with a comprehensive assessment planned in the treaty’s 19th year.
This renewed partnership underscores Djibouti’s enduring strategic value, situated near one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. It also reflects France’s recalibration after losing ground in West Africa, where military influence has waned dramatically due to growing anti-French sentiment and the withdrawal of troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
By strengthening its presence in Djibouti, France appears to be consolidating its role in East Africa—an area where it still enjoys historical, linguistic, and military ties. The new treaty not only secures France’s military footprint but also represents a broader shift in its Africa policy, signaling Paris’ determination to remain a relevant security actor on the continent amid rising global competition.