Africa

Djibouti minister criticises World Bank port ranking

A port in Djibouti. (Handout)

By Hanifa Adan | Saturday, June 8, 2024

The Djibouti government also accused the World Bank of bias in its assessment, calling the ranking unjustified and unacceptable.

Djibouti's Minister of Economics and Finance has ignited a heated debate with his recent critique of the 2024 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) index released by the World Bank's Transport/Global Practice Team.

Expressing great concerns over the irrationality of the rankings, the Minister raised questions about the methodology behind Djibouti's significant drop of over 350 points in the global ranking.

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"What kind of science can justify a drop of 350+ points in the Global ranking?" the Minister questioned, casting doubt on the credibility and transparency of the index's calculations.

His scrutiny extended to the index's volatility, as he queried, "What credibility does such an index have, fluctuating so widely in one year?"

One particular concern to the Minister was the independence and susceptibility to manipulation of the CPPI. "My question: is this index independent and free from influence & manipulation?" he inquired, urging for greater transparency and accountability in the index's formulation.

Despite the contentious ranking, the Minister remained steadfast in his assertion of Djibouti's prominence, declaring, "With or without biased index, Djibouti remains the largest and most efficient Hub in Sub-Saharan & Eastern Africa."

#Djibouti expresses great concerns over the irrationality of #CPPI #index 2023 from @WorldBank’s Transport/ Global Practice Team.
Need to understand What kind of science can justifies a drop of 350+ points in the Global ranking?
What credibility to such Index fluctuating so… pic.twitter.com/3xzUIAedmw
— Ilyas M. Dawaleh (@Ilyasdawaleh) June 7, 2024

The Djibouti government also accused the World Bank of bias in its assessment, calling the ranking unjustified and unacceptable.

"The Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority has noted with profound indignation the latest findings published in the World Bank's Container Performance Report, which ranks the port of Djibouti at 379th, a drastic and unjustified decline from our previous ranking of 26th," the Ports and Free Zones Authority said.

According to the statement, Djibouti's ports are renowned for their efficiency and strategic significance in facilitating international trade, particularly in connecting Africa with global markets.

The port is strategically located at the crossroads of one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, linking Europe, the Far East, the Horn of Africa and the Persian Gulf. The port serves as a key refuelling and transhipment centre and is the principal maritime outlet for imports to and exports from neighbouring Ethiopia. An estimated 2,500 ships pass through and call through the port every day.

The port's strategic location on the Gulf of Aden makes it an important military outpost for five military bases of the Great Powers, earning it $125 million a year in rents from the US, China, France, Japan and Italy combined.

The French Navy has 5,000 troops in Djibouti, making the port France's largest overseas base. Germany and Spain are also hosted by the French while Italy has its base in the country. Japan's only foreign military base is also based in Djibouti and is now set to be expanded as a counterweight to China's increasing influence