Comoros

Djibouti

Eritrea

Kenya

Madagascar

Mauritius

Mozambique

Seychelles

South Africa

Tanzania

United Arab Emirates

China

India

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

India is conducting its largest-ever naval exercise off the east coast of Africa, known as the Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement, or AIKEYME, with 10 other African countries on April 13-18, Radio France Internationale reported on April 16.

East Africa: India Holds Its Largest Naval Exercise With East African Countries

Ethiopia

Somalia

Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf said he expected Ethiopia to respond positively to Djibouti's proposal to offer Ethiopia "100% management" of the port of Tadjourah, located in northern Djibouti, Bloomberg reported on Sept. 4.

Ethiopia: Djibouti-Ethiopia Port Deal May Not Break Deadlock Over Somaliland

France

France and Djibouti renewed their bilateral defense cooperation treaty, Jeune Afrique reported on July 24.

Djibouti: France Secures Renewal of Bilateral Defense Agreement

Djibouti is training members of the Awdal State Movement rebel group, which opposes Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland, Somali Guardian reported on July 9.

Djibouti: Reported Training of Anti-Somaliland Rebels Threatens To Destabilize the Breakaway Region

Mauritania

Sudan

Algeria

Bahrain

Egypt

Iraq

Israel

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebanon

Libya

Morocco

Oman

Palestinian Territories

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Syria

Tunisia

Yemen

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Arab leaders began to arrive in Manama, Bahrain, on May 15, for the 33rd Arab League summit that will focus on developing a consensus on the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, The National reported the next day.

MENA: Arab League Summit To Formalize Conditions for Gaza Reconstruction

South Sudan

Kenyan authorities unveiled plans to develop a special economic zone (SEZ) in the port town of Lamu, Business Daily reported May 15.

Kenya: Authorities Unveil Plans for Special Economic Zone in Lamu as Part of Transport Masterplan 

Ethiopia is considering scrapping a maritime deal with Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland, Bloomberg reported on March 8.

Ethiopia: Government Allegedly Mulls Scraping Maritime Deal With Somaliland

Turkey

Somalia's Cabinet and parliament approved a 10-year defense and economic cooperation agreement with Turkey, Voice of America reported on Feb. 21.

Turkey: Ankara Expands Influence Via Defense Deals With Somalia, Djibouti

Columns

On Geopolitics

Benin

Burkina Faso

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Cote d'Ivoire

Gabon

Guinea

Mali

Niger

Nigeria

Republic of the Congo

Senegal

Togo

A Gabonese brigade participates in a training exercise as part of a military program linked to the Franco-Gabonese partnership at the French military base Camp de Gaulle in Libreville on March 19, 2025. 

France's reduced influence in Africa will create space for local and foreign actors to take on greater leadership roles, but their inability to fill the security vacuum left by France's withdrawal would threaten to destabilize the region.

France, Africa and the Future, Part 2: The Age of Multi-Alignment 

A picture released on July 12, 1963, of then-French President Gen. Charles de Gaulle (2L) and Jacques Foccart (L) greeting African, Malagasy and French overseas territories veterans arriving in Paris for French Bastille Day celebrations.

After decades of cultivating tight-knit relationships with francophone African countries, France has effectively ended its forward military presence in West and Central Africa amid shifting political dynamics in both regions, which will weaken its influence on the continent but enable Paris to reallocate resources towards Europe's security.

France, Africa and the Future, Part 1: A New Balance of Power 

Assessments

United States

Iran

Ships carrying Chinese military personnel depart Zhanjiang, in south China's Guangdong province, on July 11, 2017, bound for a support base in Djibouti. If tensions continue to escalate in the Persian Gulf, China may find it has no choice but to have a security presence in the Middle East.

Modernizing China’s Military

To guard its energy and security interests in the contentious waters, Beijing may find it has no choice but to join a U.S.-led escort operation, or perhaps even to launch its own.

China May Set Its Navy on Course for the Persian Gulf

Ethiopia is hoping to roll out a navy with France's support, yet it will face challenges -- not least of all because it lacks a coast.

East African Integration

The Suitors of Sub-Saharan Africa

Nearly three decades after it lost its navy, East Africa's biggest heavyweight wants to reestablish an armed maritime fleet. In so doing, though, its lack of sea access will be only one of its problems.

Landlocked Ethiopia Charts a Course for a Navy

Snapshots

With foreign companies salivating at business opportunities in Africa, and Ethiopia in particular, France's president is leading a trade delegation to Addis Ababa and neighboring capitals in the hopes of sealing some deals.

France: Macron Looks to Drum Up Business in the Horn of Africa

Profound changes are afoot in the Horn of Africa -- something that won't escape the attentions of great powers like the United States.

The U.S. and the Balance of Power

The United States wants to draw down its presence in Africa, but militancy -- as well as the interest of its greatest rivals -- will prevent it from abandoning the Horn of Africa.

Washington Wakes Up to East Africa's Importance

Media

Videos

Senior Analyst Sim Tack examines satellite images of a Chinese military base being built in Djibouti.

Chinese Naval Base in Djibouti

Satellite imagery from Djibouti shows that underground buildings and three layers of defense will protect Beijing's first permanent military facility abroad.

Satellite imagery of Djibouti shows that underground buildings and three layers of defense will protect Beijing's first permanent military facility abroad.

Looking Over China's Latest Great Wall

China in Transition

China may play down the significance of a naval deployment to the strategically located East African state, but the development will be critical to supporting its growing appetite for projecting force and engaging in global security operations.

Djibouti: China Is Establishing Its First Permanent Military Mission Overseas

Djibouti's Coveted Strategic Location

Stratfor Sub-Saharan Africa Analyst Stephen Rakowski discusses Djibouti's role in geopolitics. On the Horn of Africa, the tiny country of Djibouti will celebrate the 40th anniversary of its independence on June 27. Its position on the Bab el-Mandeb strait has drawn great attention to it in recent decades, helping it punch above its weight in international affairs.

For Djibouti, It's All About Location

The country's relative stability and strategic position along the Suez Canal trade route make it attractive to foreign powers.

Ethiopia: A Landlocked Power

The loss of coastal access in 1991 blunted the East African trading hub's influence, but geography has given it the tools to rebuild.  Its geographic position at the heart of the Horn of Africa has made it a crossroads of trade, helping it to maintain a continuity that has lasted from ancient times through the colonial era to today. 

Ethiopia: Can the Landlocked Power Restore Its Former Glory?

Djibouti is an East African country located on the Horn of Africa. It is surrounded by Eritrea to the north, Somalia to the south, Ethiopia to the east and the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to the west.     Throughout its history, Djibouti's geographic position has profoundly shaped the country. The location of the Bab el-Mandeb strait enticed French colonization of the area in the 19th century as the rise of maritime trade and the completion of the Suez Canal drove European interest in the region. Because France was unable to link its port in Djibouti with its holdings in Central and West Africa, Djibouti remained limited in size under the European power. After it achieved independence from France in 1977, the country's leaders were forced to grapple with nation building. Managing the country's internal divides has made this difficult, however, and the country fought a civil war in the 1990s as the country's main ethnic groups battled for political supremacy. Managing these divisions and resisting interference from regional neighbors seeking to destabilize the country are key challenges for Djibouti.     Another crucial challenge is maximizing profits from the country's coveted geostrategic location. Djibouti hosts military bases from numerous foreign countries, including France, China, Japan and the United States. Because the country is relatively lacking in resources, generating revenue from its position will remain a key concern for Djibouti going forward. Relatedly, Djibouti wants to develop itself into the clear hub of logistics in East Africa. Already, the country benefits greatly from being nearly the sole conduit for Ethiopia's imports and exports. Consequently, Djibouti will need to continue proving its attractiveness to outside powers such as China and the United Arab Emirates as it seeks additional infrastructure developments to further its goals in the years ahead. 

SITUATION REPORTS

East Africa: India Holds Its Largest Naval Exercise With East African Countries

Ethiopia: Djibouti-Ethiopia Port Deal May Not Break Deadlock Over Somaliland

Djibouti: France Secures Renewal of Bilateral Defense Agreement

Djibouti: Reported Training of Anti-Somaliland Rebels Threatens To Destabilize the Breakaway Region

MENA: Arab League Summit To Formalize Conditions for Gaza Reconstruction

Kenya: Authorities Unveil Plans for Special Economic Zone in Lamu as Part of Transport Masterplan

Ethiopia: Government Allegedly Mulls Scraping Maritime Deal With Somaliland

Turkey: Ankara Expands Influence Via Defense Deals With Somalia, Djibouti

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support