Djibouti President Ismaïl Guelleh sworn in as region pushes for economic integration

Ismaïl Omar Guelleh has officially taken the oath of office, pledging to deepen regional economic integration and strengthen infrastructure projects aimed at transforming the Horn of Africa into a major trade and logistics hub.

The inauguration ceremony, held in Djibouti City, drew several regional leaders, including Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, South Sudan’s Salva Kiir Mayardit and Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed, underlining the growing geopolitical and economic importance of the emerging DESSU corridor project linking Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Uganda.

In his inauguration speech, President Guelleh said his administration would focus on accelerating economic growth, improving transport connectivity and strengthening cooperation among neighbouring countries.

“Our future prosperity lies in regional integration, trade connectivity and shared infrastructure,” Guelleh said, adding that Djibouti would continue investing in transport and port facilities to support trade across East Africa.

The presence of the Ethiopian and South Sudanese leaders was widely interpreted as a strong endorsement of the DESSU initiative, a regional infrastructure project expected to connect the landlocked economies of Ethiopia, South Sudan and Uganda to the Port of Djibouti through highways, railways, pipelines and fibre-optic networks.

The corridor could significantly reduce transport costs and enhance regional trade competitiveness, especially for countries heavily reliant on imports and exports through foreign ports.

Djibouti has increasingly positioned itself as a strategic gateway to Africa due to its location at the entrance to the Red Sea, one of the world’s busiest maritime routes.

The country already serves as the principal maritime outlet for Ethiopia, whose economy depends heavily on access to the Port of Djibouti.

Guelleh, who has ruled Djibouti since 1999, secured another five-year term after winning the April presidential election with more than 97 percent of the vote, according to official results.

The 78-year-old leader faced opposition candidate Mohamed Farah Samatar in the April polls.

Guelleh’s supporters credit him with maintaining stability and attracting major international investments into ports, logistics and transport infrastructure.

The inauguration ceremony also highlighted Djibouti’s growing diplomatic influence in the Horn of Africa at a time when regional governments are seeking stronger economic cooperation to address trade bottlenecks, insecurity and development challenges.