In a significant development in the protracted legal battle over Djibouti’s Doraleh Container Terminal, the High Court of London has dismissed DP World Djibouti FZCO’s application for a £1 million Security for Costs guarantee.
The February 27 ruling by Justice Waxman comes amid ongoing efforts to enforce a judgment exceeding $135 million. Soprim Construction Sarl, led by Djiboutian businessman Abdourahman Boreh, is seeking to freeze funds held in London banks under the name of the Doraleh Container Terminal (DCT), claiming they are held in trust for the Government of Djibouti.
DP World had joined the proceedings to contest the asset freeze but was denied security costs under Civil Procedure Rules (CPR 25.12). Justice Waxman ruled that the company does not qualify as a “defendant” in the legal sense, despite its intervention to protect its interests.
“A party cannot automatically claim security for costs simply because they have joined a case to protect their interests or file an objection,” the judge stated. He clarified that meeting participation requirements does not confer defendant status.
Even if jurisdiction existed, Justice Waxman said he would reject the application, noting DP World entered the dispute voluntarily. He described the contest as one between “rival creditors” vying for the same assets.
The dispute traces back to 2017, when Djibouti seized control of the Doraleh Container Terminal from DP World. Soprim has since pursued enforcement of its claims against the terminal’s frozen London funds. The main trial to determine the funds’ fate is set for June 2026.
The decision represents a setback for DP World in its efforts to shield assets amid the multi-year litigation, while bolstering Soprim’s position ahead of the substantive hearing.
