Djibouti to jointly handle Tajura port with Ethiopia

Djibouti has clarified that it will not hand over the Tajura Port to Ethiopia but will instead pursue a joint management approach, as reported by Addis Insights.

An agreement has been reached to develop a port where Ethiopia can import fuel.

The Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that Djibouti did not propose to hand over or sell the Tajura Port to Ethiopia.

Instead, Djibouti suggested a joint management and usage arrangement for the port.

In an interview with the BBC, Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Youssef explained that the Djibouti government proposed allowing Ethiopia to use Tajura Port under Djibouti's full management to ease tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia.

He clarified, "We are not handing over Tajura Port to Ethiopia; we are jointly managing it."

"Tajura and other ports in Djibouti are national assets. Therefore, there is no reason for us to hand over any of them to another party."

National business strategy

However, Youssef mentioned that Djibouti has developed a national business strategy to ensure these resources and assets are fully utilized for the country's benefit.

"Currently, we are not getting the benefits we deserve from Tajura Port. It handles only one ship every two months. The government of Djibouti spent $60 million to build this port and $110 million to build the road from Tajura Port to Baloh state. The salaries of Tajura Port workers are paid from the revenue generated by Dollare Port. Is this correct? No," he stated.

As a result, President Ismail Omar Guelleh has directed that Tajura Port must generate income and become profitable by providing necessary services.

Therefore, the proposal to the Ethiopian government is for Tajura Port to be jointly managed and utilised, not to be taken over or sold to Ethiopia.

Youssef further explained that if Tajura Port cannot generate income by providing complete port services to Ethiopia, the debt incurred to build the port will be passed on to future generations.

In addition to Tajura Port, the foreign minister mentioned a medium-term plan to develop the Demerjug Port to facilitate Ethiopia's import of oil products, which could be transported directly by train.

When asked about Ethiopia's response to Djibouti's proposal for joint management and usage of Tajura Port, a maritime service official indicated that the matter is being handled at the government level or by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Djibouti's offer to allow Addis Ababa access to a port is a strategic move aimed at easing tensions in the Horn of Africa, particularly between Somalia and Ethiopia, following Ethiopia's decision to strike a port deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland.

Relations between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa have significantly worsened since Ethiopia reached a controversial maritime agreement with Somaliland in January.

The memorandum of understanding grants Ethiopia, one of the world's largest landlocked countries, access to the sea. However, Somalia has condemned this agreement as an infringement on its sovereignty.