LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: A justified exercise of Djibouti’s rights

OPINION:

The Government of Djibouti regrets that it was not contacted or offered an opportunity to present its views in connection with “Chinese Firm Waits in Wings as Djibouti Nationalizes Port Facilities Operated by DP World,” (Web, Feb. 25)

First, Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh is indeed a “key ally of the U.S.”

Second Djibouti is, in fact, home to the only U.S. military base on the African continent. As reported, there are over 4,000 U.S. military and civilian personnel at Camp Lemonier, which is used by the U.S. and its allies to combat terrorism in the Horn of Africa and surrounding region. Djibouti is proud of its partnership with the U.S. in the fight against terrorism.

Unfortunately, much of the rest of the article is one-sided and inaccurate. To be sure, Djibouti has nationalized the port facility at Doraleh. But this was a fully justified exercise of Djibouti’s sovereign and contractual rights, given that the port operator, DP World (of Dubai) had failed to live up to its contractual commitments.

In particular, the volume produced by DP World at the Doreleh Port was less than 60 percent of the minimum required by the contract, partly because DP World improperly diverted traffic to competing facilities in the region. DP World excluded Djibouti from all decision-making and management relating to its own port facility. Worse, under the current agreement the Djibouti government cannot develop seaports and free zones without prior approval of DP World, thus giving DP World a veto right on the economic development of Djibouti and the neighboring countries (Ethiopia and Sudan).

The Times article gratuitously accuses Djibouti of human rights and elections abuses but provides no facts or figures and cites no independent or reputable source for these accusations. This is unfair and ironic, especially in light of Djibouti’s successful parliamentary elections last week, in which a minimum of 25 percent of the seats were reserved for and awarded to women as part of the government’s commitment to gender equality. President Guelleh himself has been democratically elected and has led Djibouti to an unprecedented period of peace and prosperity, in one of the world’s most volatile regions.

H.E. MOHAMED SIAD DOUALE

Ambassador of Djibouti to the United States