What’s Behind Djibouti’s Warnings About UAE Investments in Africa?

Djiboutian President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh has issued a strong warning about the growing influence of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Africa, accusing the Gulf state of using economic investments as a cover for expanding its military and strategic control across the continent.

The UAE Campaign

According to AllAfrica, citing Radio France Internationale (Tuesday), President Guelleh criticized what he described as “the UAE’s $110 billion investment campaign in Africa,” calling it a “strategic deception” aimed at establishing military presence under the guise of economic development.

Guelleh stated: “The UAE is severely undermining regional stability. There’s no investment without military interest. This is a threat to Africa’s sovereignty.”

As reported by Djibouti’s Radio Daljir (Tuesday), Guelleh revealed that Djibouti had previously rejected a request from the UAE to establish a military base in the country. Following this refusal, the UAE shifted its focus to neighboring coastal countries, targeting strategic maritime passages such as the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and investing heavily in ports and infrastructure projects in East Africa. This move has raised concerns over regional militarization and foreign interference in the continent’s internal affairs.

Growing African Concern

Guelleh’s remarks reflect increasing unease among African leaders over the UAE’s expanding presence in key sectors such as ports, logistics, telecommunications, and transportation. While these economic partnerships may appear conventional, Guelleh stressed that they are tied to long-term military strategies that threaten national sovereignty and stability. He emphasized that there is no such thing as neutral investment—every port deal or infrastructure project is inherently linked to a broader geopolitical goal.

He also pointed to the UAE’s growing role in Somalia, where it has been known to support regional administrations opposed to the federal government. Guelleh warned that this involvement undermines Somali unity and exacerbates internal political divisions.

The UAE has also expanded its presence in Ethiopia and attempted to do the same in Sudan. Sudan has accused the UAE—based on multiple pieces of evidence submitted to some UN agencies—of supporting the Rapid Support Forces militia, which has been implicated in war crimes and crimes against humanity in several Sudanese states.

Conflict Zones

UAE investments are frequently tied to strategic infrastructure near conflict zones or disputed areas.

President Guelleh’s statements rank among the most direct criticisms made by a sitting head of state regarding UAE influence in Africa. They raise serious questions about the long-term impact of foreign investments that come with strategic and military strings attached. As African countries weigh the benefits of foreign capital against the risks to their sovereignty, Guelleh’s warning may prompt a reassessment of how governments engage with external actors like the UAE seeking to exert direct influence over the continent’s priorities.

According to Al-Muhaqiq (The Investigator), relations between Djibouti and the UAE have been strained since Djibouti expelled Dubai Ports World (DP World), a UAE-based port operator, from the Doraleh Container Terminal in 2018. This expulsion led to international legal disputes and a deterioration in diplomatic relations.

Observers argue that Guelleh’s warning is significant in awakening African awareness of the dangers posed by UAE involvement in East and North Africa—especially when considered in light of Sudan’s repeated accusations against the UAE for allegedly fueling the war waged by the rebellious Rapid Support Forces against Sudan’s economic, social, political, and military infrastructure. The most recent of these accusations followed strategic drone attacks launched via international waters over the Red Sea, targeting the administrative capital Port Sudan and surrounding cities in the eastern region.

This concern is further reinforced by reporting from Arawello News Network, which specializes in the Horn of Africa. Last Saturday, independent journalist and human rights activist Arale Jama said the regional situation is highly precarious, with missiles crossing the Red Sea airspace from Israel, the U.S., the Houthis, and the UAE. He expressed pessimism that it would not take much for one of these states to become an unintended casualty in an escalating regional storm.

(Translated from “Al-Mohaqiq” news website)