Germany has stepped up its financial and developmental commitment to the Horn of Africa by funding a series of crucial infrastructure and community projects in Djibouti valued at over $11 million (€10 million). The formal inauguration of these projects took place in the Ali Adde area of the Ali Sabieh Region, highlighting an ongoing collaborative framework designed to tackle regional migration challenges, bolster local economies, and improve the livelihoods of both host populations and displaced communities.
The high-profile inauguration event was led by Djibouti’s Minister of State for the Expansion of the Djibouti Regional Administration, Omar Hussein Omar. He was joined by the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, alongside various Djiboutian government officials, local authorities, and representatives from international organizations.
At the heart of this funding is the IGAD Regional Migration Fund (RMF), an initiative heavily backed by the German government through the German Development Bank (KfW). Established to address the complex socio-economic realities of migration and displacement in the region, the fund channels investments directly into vital community infrastructure.
During the delegation’s tour of the region, officials visited the historic former Ali Sabieh railway station. With financial backing from IGAD and Germany, this site has been transformed into a modern commercial market designed to revitalize local commerce. Spanning 2,550 square meters, the newly established trading hub features 24 retail shops, 48 open commercial spaces, administrative offices, and necessary sanitation facilities. This infrastructure is tailored to foster small businesses, stimulate local trade, and generate reliable income streams for residents in an area heavily impacted by migration dynamics.
Beyond physical market spaces, the €10 million German-backed portfolio encompasses a wide array of multi-sectoral enhancements. These include upgrading local educational facilities like the Lycée Technique in Ali Sabieh to expand technical and vocational training opportunities for youth, establishing community development centers, and setting up orientation services for migrants and vulnerable groups. These interventions are carefully calibrated to ensure that both native Djiboutian host communities and refugee populations can equitably access resources, employment pathways, and social services.
In tandem with these infrastructure launches, diplomatic and institutional engagements continue to run parallel in Djibouti’s capital. Parliament Speaker Dileita Mohamed Dileita held discussions with the European Union Ambassador to Djibouti, Denisa-Elena Ionete. Their talks centered on intensifying parliamentary cooperation and advancing the INTERPAR project—an EU-backed initiative aimed at fortifying the legislative and institutional capacities of Djibouti’s parliament.
Together, these developments underscore a deepening alignment between European partners, regional bodies like IGAD, and the Djiboutian government. By coupling macro-level institutional capacity building with grassroots economic investments, the concerted efforts seek to foster long-term stability, resilience, and sustainable development throughout the Horn of Africa.
