Japan-Djibouti Relations

December 2009

Basic Data

Diplomatic Relations:

27 in June, 1977 (Date of the recognition of the State)

Number of Residents:

Number of Japanese nationals residing in the Republic of Djibouti: 11 (Oct. 2005)

Number of Djiboutian nationals residing in Japan: 5 (Dec. 2005)

Trade with Japan (2006):

Exports: none

Imports: 5,231 million yen (automobiles etc)

Direct Investment from Japan (cumulative total fiscal 1951-1998):

none

Japan's Economic Cooperation:

List of Exchange of Notes

Loans: none

Grants: 19.1 billion yen

Technical cooperation: 2.1 billion yen

VIP Visits

From Japan to Djibouti:

Year	Name
Jan. 1993:	State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Koji Kakizawa
Jul. 2005	Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs KAWAI
Oct. 2006	Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs HAMADA

From Djibouti to Japan:

Year	History
1993	Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdou Block ABDOU (TICAD)
1994	Minister of Education, Ahmed Guireh WABERI
1994	Minister of Agriculture, Omor Chirdon ABASS
1994	Minister of Transport and Communication, Ahmed WABERI GUEDI
1995	President, Hassan GOULED Aptidon
1996	Minister of Agriculture, Ougoure Kifle AHMED
1997	Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Moussa CHEHEM
1998	Minister of Interior, Elmi Obsieh WAIS
1998	President, Hassan GOULED Aptidon
1998	President, Hassan GOULED Aptidon (TICAD II)
Feb. 2000	Minister of National Federation
Feb. 2001	Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ali ABDI FARAH
Dec. 2001	Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ali ABDI FARAH
Dec. 2001	Minister in charge of Promotion of Women and Social Affairs, Hawa Ahmed Youssouf
Mar. 2003	Minister of Agriculture
Sep. 2003	President, Ismaïl Omar GUELLEH
Jul. 2005	Minister of Sport, MIGUIL
Jun. 2006	Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf

Cultural Grant (cumulative total fiscal 1975-2004)

102.0 million yen (Cultural Grant Aid)

Recent Trends

In December 1994 the government signed a largely cosmetic peace accord with a minority faction of FRUD (Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy), two of whose leaders gained cabinet posts. The apparent success of this strategy enhanced the power of President Gouled's principal adviser, Ismael Omar Guelleh, who adopted similar methods to divide his opponents within government.

Consolidating his grip on power during President Gouled's long illness, Mr Guelleh was selected as RPP candidate for the April 1999 presidential election, and won a convincing victory over a veteran Issa politician, Moussa Ahmed Idriss.

In February 2000 the government and the radical wing of the opposition FRUD signed a peace deal in Paris calling for an end to hostilities and the release of prisoners.

• Visit to Japan by H.E. Mr Ali Hassan Bahdon, Minister of Equipment and Transportation of the Republic of Djibouti (December 2009)
• Exchange of Notes for Grant Aid for the Republic of Djibouti (the Project for Introduction of Clean Energy by Solar Electricity Generation System) (December 2009)
• Dispatch of Economic Cooperation Study Teams to Surrounding Countries (Djibouti and Yemen) in Connection with the Issue of Piracy off the Coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden (April 2009)
• Talks between H.E. Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for Foreign Affairs and H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation of the Republic of Djibouti (April 2009)
• Exchange of Notes between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of Djibouti concerning the status of the Self-Defense Forces of Japan, etc. in the Republic of Djibouti (April 2009) [English (PDF)] [French (PDF)]
• Visit to Japan by Mr. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation of the Republic of Djibouti (June 2006)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on Signing of Framework Agreement for Peace in Djibouti (February 2000)

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Press Secretary's Press Conference on Djibouti