Djibouti Navy

The armed forces have approximately 8,400 personnel. The army has about 8,000 personnel; the air force, 200; and the navy, 120. The Navy is part of the Army. Djibouti has adopted French naval tactics for inshore patrol and counterinsurgency work. The Navy has eight patrol craft and one medium landing craft. The operational condition of these units is unknown.

Djibouti Port Installation is an improved natural harbor on the Gulf of Aden at the entrance to the Gulf of Tadjoura. It is the only major port in Djibouti and is economically significant, particularly since the onset of tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Although not the largest, Djibouti Port Installation is the best-equipped and maintained on the Horn of Africa and is one of three major ports in the East Africa region. A free port and container terminal, Djibouti Port Installation is located along strategic sea-lanes and is adjacent to the Bab al Mandeb, a strait at the southern point of the Red Sea. The port’s geographic position makes it critical to the Gulf oil trade.

Djibouti Port Installation has 2,405 meters (7,890 feet) of wharfage for containers and general cargo in addition to three POL berths. Three wharves (Berths 4 - 8) are used by dhows, coastal vessels, and conventional cargo ships. Another wharf (Berth 9) is used exclusively by the French Navy. Two major quays are available for military discharge: the container quay and the general cargo quay.

By 2008 Djibouti was increasingly engaged in international efforts to combat Somali piracy, ranging from hosting military facilities from which European nations have pursued unilateral or multilateral anti-piracy patrols (e.g., Spanish P-3 maritime surveillance aircraft, the UK frigate HMS Northumberland, German frigate in support of the multinational CTF-150, French plans for the ESDP) to planning an IMO conference in late January 2009 to address legal conventions that could be used to stem piracy. Djibouti's foreign minister recommended international support for formation of a 200-300 person Somali naval counter-piracy contingent, as part of a newly established Somali security force to be formed jointly by Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS).

US security firm, Blackwater Worldwide (BW), received permission from the Government of Djibouti to operate an armed ship from the port of Djibouti, to protect commercial shipping from pirates off the coast of Somalia. Blackwater's US-flagged ship was expected to arrive in early March 2009, and would have a crew of 33 AmCits, including three 6-man armed teams who would operate in continuous shifts. The Djiboutian Navy would secure Blackwater's weapons (i.e., .50-caliber machine guns) while ashore in Djibouti. Blackwater did not intend to take any pirates into custody, but will use lethal force against pirates if necessary; it was developing an SOP that was currently under legal review and will be shared with the USG. Blackwater's counter-piracy operation did not initially have any clients yet, but Blackwater expected business to develop following a public launch in Djibouti.

The Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden (the Djibouti Code of Conduct) provides a framework for capacity building in the Gulf of Aden and Western Indian Ocean to counter the threat of piracy. The Code was signed on 29 January 2009.

The success after five years of the Djibouti Code of Conduct in contributing to the reduction of piracy in the Western Indian Ocean was substant. Piracy was successfully contained, with no successful hijack for three years. This was dependent on merchant ships continuing to implement IMO guidance and best management practices; naval forces continuing to deter and disrupt pirate activities; and member States continuing to prosecute suspected pirates and increasing their maritime law enforcement capabilities.

The Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia convened 10-15 November 2013 for Counter Piracy Week in Djibouti. This first ever extended duration gathering of the CGPCS included meetings of all five working groups, a number of stand-alone thematic discussions, and the 15th Plenary. In all, the event drew 55 delegations totaling approximately 220 participants. Notably, the first ever plenary session in the Horn of Africa included active participation by the Federal Government of Somalia and a number of regional partners in the fight against piracy. Participants agreed that, while significant progress has been made in the last two years, the underlying conditions that allowed piracy to flourish remained.