Browsing: Djibouti

• The AfDB projects real GDP growth to accelerate to 4.1 percent in 2025 and 4.4 percent in 2026.
• However, Africa’s growth remains below the 7 percent threshold required for substantial poverty reduction.
• The continent also continues to grapple with geopolitical tensions, structural weaknesses, climate-related disasters, and prolonged conflicts in regions such as the Sahel and the Horn of Africa.

Africa’s economy is picking up, showing signs of improvement but remains vulnerable to persistent threats that could derail economic gains in the next 12 months.

According to the 2025 Macroeconomic Performance and Outlook (MEO) by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the continent is forecast to post a GDP growth of 4.1 percent in 2025 and 4.4 percent next year. This economic expansion is attributable to ongoing economic reforms, declining inflation, and improved fiscal and debt positions.

The AfDB report was unveiled on the sidelines of the 38th Ordinary Session of the …

• On Saturday, Djibouti’s Mahamoud Youssouf emerged victorious in AUC chairmanship elections, securing 33 votes in the seventh round.
• However, Kenya’s Ruto claims that the continent lost a valuable opportunity by not electing Raila Odinga.
• For Djibouti, Africa deserved better than Raila.

The rivalry between Kenya and Djibouti that was marked by campaigns leading up to the election of the African Union Commission Chairman (AUC) post appears far from over. In the latest twist, authorities in Djibouti have hit back at President William Ruto who on Sunday expressed disappointment over the failure of leaders of Africa to vote Kenya’s candidate Raila Odinga.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Amb . Moussa Mohamed Omar of Djibouti stated, “In response to President Ruto on Citizen TV Kenya: claiming Africa “lost an opportunity” is dishonest. 33 heads of state chose Mahmoud, the right choice for Africa’s challenges, refusing to let the AU …

• The EU is supporting efforts in the Horn of Africa that will boost regional economic integration and trade. 
• Djibouti’s major trading partner countries include Ethiopia and troubled Somalia.
• Trade Mark Africa is helping implement a single window system which is already in use across EAC.

The EU has expressed its support for Djibouti’s plan to enhance connectivity within the Horn of Africa, a move that will promote trade with Ethiopia, one of the region’s biggest trade partners.

This collaboration is in sync with the African Alliance for e-commerce, a consortium comprising 18 member countries, dedicated to advancing the Single Window concept. This alignment adheres to the recommendations set forth by international institutions.

A pivotal project within the Alliance is the establishment of a Regional Single Window, designed to seamlessly interconnect all national platforms. The overarching goal is to streamline trade processes, bolstering the competitiveness of African nations on the global …

Djibouti is set to receive a $120 million loan from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in a deal targeting projects that will accelerate the country’s economic growth. 

The financing, which will go to Djibouti’s Great Horn Investment Holding (GHIH) to execute projects in the country’s Damerjog Industrial Development Free Trade Zone,  is part of a total facility amount of $155 million. The remaining $35 million will be financed through Banque pour le Commerce et l’Industrie Mer Rouge of Djibouti. …

South Sudan and Djibouti have signed an MoU to lay fibre optic cable from Djibouti to South Sudan’s capital, Juba, via Ethiopia. Djibouti’s fibre optic is not the first telecommunications infrastructure that South Sudan is connecting to. In January 2020, Liquid Intelligent Technologies (LIT) announced the installation of a 200km fibre backbone to connect the Uganda border to Juba.

Authorities believe additional data capacity will enable the country to successfully implement its digital transformation strategy by making broadband internet connectivity more affordable. South Sudanese officials said the agreement would ensure that region is connected to the international community and reduce the high cost of the internet.

South Sudan’s Ministry of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services said South Sudanese and Djibouti government officials would establish a technical committee to oversee the project.…

Africa has some of the most expensive mobile data services in Africa. With the increase in connectivity via smartphones, people in emerging markets can use their portable devices for more things each passing day. Most of us have a smartphone with mobile data that we can carry anywhere and as soon as we step home we switch to our Wi-Fi not to overuse our mobile data; which is most of the time unfairly overcharged.

However some people do not have the privilege to afford both mobile data and internet at home, so they opt for the more expensive but more portable mobile data. Everyday, people in emerging African countries are forced to take this decision and are sometimes charged the most expensive prices in the world for mobile data. What is important to know also is the dependency and impact of smartphones in lower income communities.

With a difficulty in …