# Djibouti - United States Department of State

- Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Mike Hammer Travels to Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti May 8-19 Office of the SpokespersonSpecial Envoy for the Horn of Africa Mike Hammer will travel to Nairobi to meet with Kenyan officials to discuss shared regional challenges.  In Addis Ababa, Special Envoy Hammer will meet with the African Union, Ethiopian officials, and the Interim Regional Administration of Tigray regarding implementation of the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and the urgency of resolving outstanding issues through political dialogue and avoiding a return to conflict.  Special Envoy Hammer will also discuss dialogue to end violence in the Amhara and Oromia regions and the need to investigate reports of human rights violations.  In Djibouti, Special Envoy Hammer will consult on regional and security issues with Djiboutian government officials.
- Houssein Ismael Houssein Houssein Ismael Houssein, a Surveillance Detection Specialist with the U.S. Embassy Djibouti, was killed in the course of his duties in a single vehicle motorbike accident that occurred near the embassy on August 26, 2020.
- Djibouti HomeReportsBureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices&#8230;Djibouti				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Djibouti																																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																																																																																							Download Report																																																							Translations																																																																 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																																									a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																																											b. Disappearance																																																																											c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																																			Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																																																		d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																																			Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																																																		e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																																			Trial Procedures																																																								Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																																																																																		f. Transnational Repression																																																																											g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																																											h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																																																	Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																																									a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																																			Internet Freedom																																																																																																																		b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																																			Freedom of Peaceful Assembly																																																								Freedom of Association																																																																																																																		c. Freedom of Religion																																																																											d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																																											e. Protection of Refugees																																																																																	Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																																									Elections and Political Participation																																																																																	Section 4. Corruption in Government																															Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																															Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																																									Women																																																																											Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																																											Children																																																																											Antisemitism																																																																											Trafficking in Persons																																																																											Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																																											Persons with Disabilities																																																																																	Section 7. Worker Rights																																																									a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																																											b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																																											c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																																											d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																																											e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																																																																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				There were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Djibouti during the year.Significant human rights issues included credible reports of:  arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings; torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government; arbitrary arrest or detention; arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy; serious restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom, including censorship and enforcement of criminal libel laws to limit expression; serious restrictions on internet freedom; substantial interference with freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, including overly restrictive laws on the organization, funding, or operation of nongovernmental and civil society organizations; serious and unreasonable restrictions on political participation; serious government restrictions on or harassment of domestic and international human rights organizations; and trafficking in persons, including forced labor.The government seldom took credible steps to identify, investigate, prosecute, or punish officials who may have committed human rights abuses.																														Section 1.													 Respect for the Integrity of the Person												    																																																a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings										There was one report that the government or its agents committed an arbitrary or unlawful killing during the year.On January 31, Abdoukader Obakar Houmed died while in Dikhil police custody on drug-related charges.  His death triggered protests, and credible domestic human rights organizations attributed the death to torture.  The government assigned a state prosecutor to investigate the death and sent senior officials, including the prime minister, to ease public tension.  The government-mandated National Commission for Human Rights (CNDH) also conducted an independent investigation.  At year’s end, the investigative efforts had not produced a report.  A week after Houmed’s death, all five policemen on duty at the Dikhil station at the time of the incident were reassigned to different posts.  Houmed’s family did not receive compensation from the government.																																				b. Disappearance										There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities.																																				c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses										The constitution and law prohibited such practices, but there were credible reports that government officials employed them.  There were credible reports that security forces arrested and abused journalists, opposition members, and demonstrators.Impunity was a problem, especially in the security sector.  The government seldom took steps to identify, investigate, or prosecute officials in the security forces for abuses.  Additionally, the limited space for media and civil society offered few tools to identify, report, and fight impunity.																Prison and Detention Center Conditions						International and national human rights organizations reported prison conditions remained harsh, and overcrowding was a problem.Abusive Physical Conditions:  The country had one central prison, Gabode, in the capital and a smaller regional prison in Obock, as well as small jails supervised by local police or gendarmes.  Prison conditions were harsh due to overcrowding and inadequate sanitary conditions.  Prisons exceeded their original planned capacity by almost double.Administration:  During visits to prisons, the CNDH provided an anonymous survey to inmates where they could report alleged mistreatment and human rights abuses.  The CNDH did not identify human rights abuses in the prisons.Independent Monitoring:  The CNDH visited prisons and detention facilities.																										d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention										The law prohibited arbitrary arrest and detention and provided for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of their arrest or detention in court, but the government seldom respected these provisions.																Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees						The law required arrest warrants and stipulated the government could not detain a person beyond 48 hours without an examining magistrate’s formal charge; however, the government reportedly did not respect the law, especially in rural areas.  Authorities could hold detainees for another 48 hours with the prior approval of the public prosecutor.  The law stated officers should promptly notify detainees of the charges against them, but there were delays.The law contained a provision for bail, but authorities rarely made use of it.  Detainees had the right to prompt access to an attorney of their choice, but that right was not widely known and detention facility officials rarely informed detainees of this right.  In criminal cases, the state provided attorneys for indigent detainees.  In instances of unlawful detention, detainees could be granted court-ordered release but no compensation.Arbitrary Arrest:  There were reports of security officials arbitrarily arresting journalists, bloggers, opposition members, and demonstrators.For example, authorities detained Nasser Abdillahi Boulaleh, a Belgian-Djiboutian dual national and member of an opposition political party, at the airport on June 8 upon his arrival from Belgium but did not specify the reason for his arrest.  After 10 days of detention at an unknown location, police deported him to Belgium.Pretrial Detention:  Lengthy pretrial detention was a problem, and the length of pretrial detention frequently equaled or exceeded the maximum sentence for the alleged crime.  Prisoners often waited two or more years for their trials to begin.  Judicial inefficiency and a lack of experienced legal staff contributed to the problem.																										e. Denial of Fair Public Trial										The constitution and law provided for an independent judiciary, but the judiciary lacked independence and was inefficient.  There were reports of judicial corruption.  Authorities did not consistently respect constitutional provisions for a fair trial.																Trial Procedures						The law provided for the right to a fair and public trial; however, the judiciary did not fully enforce this right.The law required that all persons, including those charged with political or national security offenses, be tried within eight months of arraignment, but there were reports the government did not respect this right.  Although the law required the state to provide detainees with free interpretation when needed, such services were not always made available.  Indigents had a right to legal counsel in criminal and civil matters but sometimes did not have legal representation.  Defendants had the right to appeal, although the appeals process was lengthy.						Political Prisoners and Detainees						There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees.																										f. Transnational Repression										Not applicable.																																				g. Property Seizure and Restitution										Not applicable.																																				h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence										The constitution and law prohibited such actions, but there were reports the government failed to respect these prohibitions.  The law required authorities to obtain a warrant before conducting searches on private property, but the government did not always respect the law.  Government critics claimed the government monitored their communications and kept their homes under surveillance.																																					Section 2.													 Respect for Civil Liberties												    																																																a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media										The constitution and law allowed for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media, provided the exercise of these freedoms complied with the law and respected “the honor of others.”  The government reportedly did not respect these rights.  The law included prison sentences for media offenses.Freedom of Expression:  Individuals who criticized the government publicly or privately faced reprisals.  For example, on April 12, authorities arrested Ahmed Ali Mohamed, a member of a political opposition party not recognized by the government.  Mohamed had published an online video documenting violence between Eritrean asylum seekers and security personnel, describing the event as ethnically motivated.  The Ministry of Interior filed a complaint against Mohamed for dissemination of false news to incite violence in the regional capital of Obock.  After a judge sentenced Mohamed to 13 months of detention, authorities released him on May 4.Censorship or Content Restrictions for Members of the Press and Other Media, Including Online Media:  Media law and the government’s harassment and occasional detention of journalists resulted in widespread self-censorship.  Some opposition members used pseudonyms to publish articles.Printing facilities for mass media were government-owned, which created obstacles for those wishing to criticize the government.  The principal newspaper, La Nation, maintained a monopoly on authorized print media.  Privately owned or independent newspapers were distributed on an irregular basis.The government owned the only radio and television stations.  The official media generally did not criticize government leaders or policy.  Foreign media broadcast throughout the country.  Cable news and other programming were available via satellite.The National Communication Commission, a branch of the Ministry of Communication, issued identification cards to journalists and licenses to political parties and private citizens, allowing them to operate social media accounts.  Political parties, journalists, and private citizens critical of the government were not issued licenses or identifications cards, which limited their ability to express themselves freely online.  Foreign media outlets and journalists, including the BBC and al-Jazeera, were not required to obtain a domestic license, but registered directly with the Ministry of Communication.Libel/Slander Laws:  The government used laws against libel, slander, and defamation to restrict public discussion and retaliate against political opponents.On May 16, authorities arrested Yasmine Ahmed Guedi, whose father was killed in a 1987 terrorist attack, for posting an online video addressed to the president in which she demanded compensation for her father’s death.  Guedi claimed the families of the other attack victims, all foreigners, had received compensation from the government.  On May 25, she was sentenced to six months’ detention for defaming the president.																Internet Freedom						There were few government restrictions on access to the internet, although the government monitored social networks to prevent demonstrations or overly critical views of the government.  Djibouti Telecom, the state-owned internet provider, blocked access to websites of the Association for Respect for Human Rights in Djibouti, a domestic nongovernmental organization (NGO), and the independent streaming platform Voice of Djibouti, which criticized the government.The government continued to block access to Facebook and Instagram; the block was put in place in 2021.  Nonetheless, government officials continued to use Facebook as the primary platform to disseminate information.																										b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association										The government limited freedoms of peaceful assembly and association.  Some opposition members alleged security forces routinely canceled or disrupted their meetings and other political events.																Freedom of Peaceful Assembly						Although the constitution provided for freedom of assembly, the government restricted this right.  The Ministry of Interior required permits for assemblies but did not grant them to opposition groups.						Freedom of Association						The constitution and law allowed for freedom of association, provided community groups registered and obtained a permit from the Ministry of Interior.  The government harassed and intimidated opposition parties, human rights groups, and labor unions (see sections 2.a. and 7.a.).																										c. Freedom of Religion										See the Department of State’s  International Religious Freedom Report.																																				d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country										The law generally provided for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights.In-country Movement:  Due to a continuing border dispute with Eritrea, certain areas in the north of the country remained under military control.																																				e. Protection of Refugees										The government collaborated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to refugees, returning refugees, or asylum seekers, as well as other persons of concern.  By law, refugees had the same rights to public services and employment as citizens, and the government actively implemented the law.Access to Asylum:  The law provided for granting asylum or refugee status.  Asylum seekers from southern Somalia and Yemen were prima facie considered eligible for asylum or refugee status.  An interagency commission reviewed all other asylum claims, and UNHCR participated as an observer.  Ethiopian and Eritrean asylum seekers claimed discrimination in the refugee status determination process and cited lengthy delays in processing.Temporary Protection:  The government provided temporary protection to a limited number of individuals who may not qualify as refugees, primarily unaccompanied child migrants.																																					Section 3.													 Freedom to Participate in the Political Process												    																						The constitution and law provided citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage.  The government, however, deprived many citizens of this ability by suppressing the opposition and refusing to allow several opposition groups to form legally recognized political parties.  The formal structures of representative government and electoral processes had little relevance to the real distribution and exercise of power.																										Elections and Political Participation										Abuses or Irregularities in Recent Elections:  National elections, last conducted in February 24 legislative polling, were reported by regional observers as fair and free of major abuses and irregularities.  Most opposition parties boycotted the election and only one opposition coalition participated.  There were restrictions on political parties to be listed on the ballot, and the Ministry of Interior denied the registrations of the Alliance of Movement for Democratic Alternative and Unified Democratic Center on the grounds they had not paid requisite registration fees.International observers from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation commented on the security and the peaceful atmosphere of the elections.  For the first time, the government invited diplomatic missions to observe the polling.Political Parties and Political Participation:  The government did not recognize most active opposition parties.  Members of those political parties and other opposition members were occasionally arrested and detained.  While membership in a political party was not required for government jobs, civil servants who publicly criticized the government faced reprisals at work, including suspension, dismissal, and nonpayment of salaries.  Government-imposed fees on political parties to enter legislative and presidential elections were prohibitive:  candidates were required to pay a fee of Djiboutian francs 500,000 ($2,820) to enter legislative elections and up to five million Djiboutian francs ($28,200) to enter presidential elections.  These fees were not collected from members of the majority party.  The fees were supposed to be reimbursed if a candidate received at least 5 percent of total votes; however, the government did not issue reimbursements in the past, further discouraging opposition parties from participating in elections.Participation of Women and Members of Marginalized or Vulnerable Groups:  No laws limited the participation of women or members of historically marginalized groups in the political process, but cultural factors limited their active participation.																																					Section 4.													 Corruption in Government												    																						The law provided criminal penalties for official corruption, and while the government arrested officials for corruption, others engaged in corrupt practices with impunity.  The government did not enforce the law effectively.  There were isolated reports of government corruption.Corruption:  The National Anti-Corruption Commission led the fight against low-level corruption.  Government officials held multiple meetings on preventing corruption and money laundering.For additional information concerning corruption in the country, please see the Department of State’s Investment Climate Statement for the country, and the Department of State’s International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, which includes information on financial crimes.																											Section 5.													 Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights												    																						The government generally allowed a few domestic human rights groups that dealt with matters authorities did not consider politically sensitive to operate without restriction by conducting limited investigations and sometimes publishing findings on human rights cases.  Many other domestic and international human rights groups were subject to scrutiny and government reprisal.On March 14, authorities expelled the vice president of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Alexis Deswaef, a Belgian national, after he had been in the country for two days on a fact-finding mission.  An FIDH program officer was denied entry to the country two days earlier.  Deswaef’s delegation had meetings with United Nations offices, diplomatic missions, civil society organizations, and members of the opposition.  A Ministry of Interior statement claimed the delegation had acquired tourist visas under false pretenses and lacked appropriate objectivity because of its 2017 deposition filed against the government on behalf of an opposition group at the United Nations Human Rights Council.  The government did not recognize FIDH’s local partner, the Djiboutian Human Rights League.  The CNDH denounced FIDH for “politicizing human rights” and described the visit as inappropriate, unprofessional, and reflective of a conflict of interest.Government Human Rights Bodies:  The Ministry of Justice and Penitentiary Affairs (Ministry of Justice) was the government ministry tasked with safeguarding human rights.  The CNDH, the government’s human rights organization, served as a watchdog for human rights abuses.  Its members included technical experts, representatives of civil society and labor unions, religious groups, the legal community, the Ombudsperson’s Office, and the National Assembly.  By law, the commission was a permanent institution with trained staff and regional offices.  The CNDH was generally regarded by observers as ineffective.  Although nominally independent, CNDH actions often aligned with government decisions.The Ombudsperson’s Office held responsibilities that included mediation between the government and citizens on topics such as land titles, issuance of national identity cards, and claims for unpaid wages.  Written records of the ombudsperson’s activities were sparse, and it was unclear what actions the organization took to promote human rights.																											Section 6.													 Discrimination and Societal Abuses												    																																																Women										Rape and Domestic Violence:  The law included sentences of up to 20 years’ imprisonment for rape of women or men but did not address spousal rape.  The law prohibited “torture and barbaric acts” against a spouse, specifying penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment.  The law specifically enumerated protection against domestic violence, harmful cultural practices, and discrimination.  The government enforced these laws effectively.The government continued to address gender-based violence.  The National Union of Djiboutian Women (UNFD), a nonprofit organization chaired by the first lady, worked with the government to empower and protect women from violence.  The UNFD’s Cellule d’Ecoute (Listening Committee) addressed gender-based violence against women and girls and worked in partnership with various government ministries.  The committee referred cases of abuse to the Ministry of Justice and divorce cases to the council on sharia.  The National Gendarmerie had a special unit for cases of gender-based violence.  Nonetheless, officials at the Ministry of Justice reported survivors of rape and domestic violence often avoided the formal court system in favor of settlements between families.  The government maintained a support fund for survivors of violence and integrated care centers to provide them with medical care and psychosocial support.The UNFD placed a full-time staff member in each refugee settlement to provide support for domestic violence survivors in these communities.Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C):  The law prohibited FGM/C, but rates remained high.  The law set the punishment of FGM/C at five years’ imprisonment and a substantial fine, and NGOs could file charges on behalf of victims.  The law also provided for up to one year’s imprisonment and a substantial fine for anyone failing to report a completed or planned FGM/C to the proper authorities.  The government enforced the law when cases were reported to authorities.A 2019 study from the Ministry of Women showed a significant decrease of the FGM/C prevalence rate for girls from birth through age 10, from 94 percent in 1994 to 21.2 percent in 2019.  According to the study, the prevalence rate remained higher in rural than in urban areas, with 37.9 percent and 13.2 percent prevalence rates in those areas, respectively.The government supported efforts by international and national NGOs to provide training and education concerning the harmful effects of FGM/C.  Additionally, the country’s religious leaders took a stance against FGM/C.  Despite the government’s efforts, major obstacles included high rates of illiteracy, difficulty of enforcement, and deep-seated societal traditions.Other Forms of Gender-based Violence or Harassment:  Anecdotal information suggested sexual harassment was widespread, and victims were reluctant to report cases.  Although the government made statements to underscore such harassment was illegal, it did not effectively enforce the law.Discrimination:  The constitution provided for equal treatment of citizens regardless of gender, but women experienced legal discrimination in areas such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance.Legal restrictions for women included limitations on employment in occupations requiring certain levels of physical strength.  A decree adopted on the proposal of the ministers of labor and of health, at the suggestion of the National Council for Labor, Employment, and Vocational Training, determined the jobs and categories of businesses prohibited for women, pregnant women, and young persons, and the age limit to which the restrictions applied.  Harassment and discrimination resulted in a secondary role for women in public life and fewer employment opportunities in the formal sector.The government made women’s empowerment one of its top priorities, as illustrated by increasing the number of women in high-profile government positions.  A presidential decree required women to hold at least 25 percent of all high-level public service positions.  The government also promoted women-led small businesses, including expanded access to microcredit.Reproductive Rights:  There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities.  Women could access modern methods of family planning without the consent of their husbands or male partners.  By law, the government offered access to sexual and reproductive health services for survivors of sexual violence, including emergency contraception and postexposure prophylaxis for the clinical management of rape, but there was no information available on survivor use of reproductive health information or health facilities.UNICEF’s 2020 statistics, the latest available data, indicated a maternal death rate of 234 deaths per 100,000 live births, with rates higher outside of Djibouti City.  A lack of facilities impacted access to skilled health personnel.  Home births were the norm in rural areas.  There were no social, legal, or cultural barriers related to menstruation or access to menstruation hygiene, and they had a limited impact on the ability of women and girls to participate in society, particularly education.  Pregnancy or motherhood status did not represent a barrier to girls’ education.																																				Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination										The constitution prohibited discrimination based on language, race, gender, and religion.  The governing coalition included representatives of all the country’s major clans and ethnic groups, with minority groups also represented in senior positions.  Nonetheless, there was discrimination based on ethnicity in employment and job advancement.  The Somali Issas, the majority ethnic group, controlled the ruling party, the Union for a Presidential Majority, and shared political power with the Afar ethnic group.  There were multiple rival subclans, and discrimination based on ethnicity and clan affiliation remained a factor in business and politics.																																				Children										Child Abuse:  The law prohibited child abuse.  The government enforced the law effectively.  On March 8, a high-profile child abuse investigation resulted in the perpetrator receiving a 10-year prison sentence on charges of aggravated violence on a child and possession of pornographic videos.Child, Early, and Forced Marriage:  Although the law set the minimum legal age of marriage at 18, it provided that “marriage of minors who have not reached the legal age of majority is subject to the consent of their guardians.”  Child, early, and forced marriage occasionally occurred in rural areas.  The government, as well as the UNFD, worked with women’s groups throughout the country to protect the rights of girls, including the right to decide when and whom to marry.Sexual Exploitation of Children:  The law provided for three years’ imprisonment and a substantial fine for the commercial sexual exploitation of children.  The sale, manufacture, or distribution of all pornography, including child pornography, was prohibited, punishable by one year’s imprisonment and a substantial fine.  The government enforced these laws effectively.  The law did not specifically prohibit statutory rape, and there was no legal minimum age of consent.The law criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking.  The law considered child sex trafficking as an aggravating circumstance for which the penalties significantly increased.  The law was enforced.																																				Antisemitism										Observers estimated the Jewish community at fewer than 30 persons, the majority of whom were foreign military members stationed in the country.  There were no known reports of antisemitic incidents.																																				Trafficking in Persons										See the Department of State’s  Trafficking in Persons Report.																																				Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics										Criminalization:  The law did not explicitly criminalize lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex (LGBTQI+) status or sexual conduct between consenting adults.  Nonetheless, LGBTQI+ status and conduct were considered taboo.Violence and Harassment:  There was a societal pattern of discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons, although no official cases of violence were available for citation.  LGBTQI+ persons, as any other citizens, could file a complaint of harassment or assault to authorities or the CNDH.  Social and religious intolerance of LGBTQI+ status was so pervasive that LGBTQI+ persons feared social shunning and extreme discrimination from family members or the community if their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics were disclosed.Discrimination:  The law did not prohibit discrimination by state or nonstate actors based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics.  There was a societal pattern of discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons, although no official cases were available for citation.Availability of Legal Gender Recognition:  Legal gender recognition was not available.Involuntary or Coercive Medical or Psychological Practices:  Although no official cases were available for citation, strong societal taboos against LGBTQI+ conduct or identity made it difficult to accurately assess the scope or nature of such practices, or whether they took place at all.Restrictions of Freedom of Expression, Association, or Peaceful Assembly:  Although there were no laws or other restrictions, strong social discrimination made it difficult for LGBTQI+ persons to assemble, associate, or express themselves freely and publicly.																																				Persons with Disabilities										Persons with disabilities could not routinely access education, health services, public buildings, and transportation on an equal basis with others.  The government did not mandate access to government services and accessibility to buildings for persons with disabilities, and buildings were often inaccessible.  The law provided persons with disabilities access to health care and education, but it was not effectively enforced.  Although the government did not always provide information and communication on disability concerns in accessible formats, the CNDH and the Ministry of Justice implemented mandatory sign language interpretation for deaf persons during judicial proceedings.The constitution did not prohibit discrimination against persons with disabilities.  Authorities held prisoners with mental disabilities separately from other pretrial detainees and convicted prisoners and provided some psychological treatment or monitoring.  Families could request confinement in prison for relatives with mental disabilities who had not been convicted of any crime but were considered a danger to themselves or those around them.  Aside from psychiatric services administered to prisoners with mental disabilities in Gabode Prison, there were no treatment facilities for persons with mental disabilities and only one practicing psychiatrist in the country.The government’s National Agency of Handicapped Persons conducted awareness-raising campaigns, coordinated with NGOs to organize seminars and other events, and encouraged social service providers to improve their systems to serve persons with disabilities better.																																					Section 7.													 Worker Rights												    																																																a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining										The constitution and law provided for the right of workers to form and join independent unions, with limitations that fell significantly short of international standards for trade unions, including the requirement for obtaining prior authorization from the Ministry of Labor.  The law provided the right to strike after giving advance notification, allowed collective bargaining, and fixed the basic conditions for adherence to collective agreements.  The law prohibited antiunion discrimination and required employers to reinstate workers fired for union activities.  The economic free zones (EFZs) operated under different rules, and labor law provided workers fewer rights in the EFZs.The law provided for the suspension of the employment contract when a worker held office in a trade union.  The law also prohibited membership in a trade union if an individual had prior convictions, regardless of whether the conviction was prejudicial to the integrity required to exercise union office.  The law provided the president with broad discretionary power to prohibit or restrict severely the right of civil servants to strike, based on an extensive list of “essential services” that could exceed the limits of international standards.The procedure for trade union registration was lengthy and complicated, allowing the Ministry of Labor virtually unchecked discretionary authority over registration.  The government also required unions to repeat this approval process following any changes to union leadership or union statutes, meaning each time there was a union election, the union was required to reregister with the government.The government neither enforced nor complied with applicable law, including the law on antiunion discrimination.  The government did not levy penalties commensurate with those for other laws involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination.The government harassed and intimidated labor unions, and limited their ability to register members, thus compromising the ability of labor groups to operate.  The government did not allow the country’s two independent labor unions to register as official labor unions.  Two government-backed labor unions with the same names as the independent labor unions, sometimes known as “clones,” served as the primary collective bargaining mechanisms for many workers.  Members of the government had close ties to the government-backed labor unions.  Only members of government-backed labor unions attended international and regional labor meetings with the imprimatur of the government.  Independent union leaders stated the government suppressed independent representative unions by tacitly discouraging labor meetings.Collective bargaining sometimes occurred and usually resulted in quick agreements.  The tripartite National Council on Work, Employment, and Professional Training, which included representatives from labor, employers, and government, examined all collective bargaining agreements and played an advisory role in their negotiation and application.On March 3, authorities seized the passport of Aden Mohamed Abdou, a unionist and political opposition leader, after his participation in a February workshop sponsored by IGAD in Addis Ababa.  The government had opposed his participation in the conference.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a letter to IGAD’s executive secretariat asking that Abdou’s invitation be revoked, and the minister of labor and the ambassador to Ethiopia, present at the conference, blocked his participation.  Other labor union representatives, in solidarity, boycotted the conference.  After a two-day halt, Abdou asked that the conference continue without him.  Upon his return, immigration officers seized his passport and, as of December, the passport remained in their custody.  Abdou submitted a formal complaint to the UN Human Rights Council with support from the International Labor Office in Geneva.																																				b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor										See the Department of State’s annual  Trafficking in Persons Report.																																				c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment										See the Department of Labor’s  Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor&nbsp;.																																				d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																														e. Acceptable Conditions of Work										Wage and Hour Laws:  The national minimum wage for the public sector was above the World Bank poverty income level.  The law did not mandate a minimum wage for the private sector, but it provided that minimum wages be established by common agreement between employers and employees.  The legal workweek was 40 hours over five days, a limit that applied to workers regardless of gender or nationality.  The law mandated a weekly rest period of 48 consecutive hours and the provision of overtime pay at an increased rate fixed by agreement or collective bargaining.  The law stated that combined regular and overtime hours could not exceed 60 hours per week and 12 hours per day.  Penalties for abuses were commensurate with those for similar crimes, such as fraud.  The law provided for paid holidays.Occupational Safety and Health:  The government set appropriate occupational safety and health (OSH) standards that covered the country’s main industries.  Responsibility for identifying unsafe situations remained with OSH experts and not the worker.  The law did not provide workers the right to remove themselves from a hazardous workplace without jeopardizing their employment.  Migrants were especially vulnerable to hazardous working conditions, particularly in the construction sector and at ports.  Hazards included improper safety equipment and inadequate safety training.Wage, Hour, and OSH Enforcement:  The Ministry of Labor was responsible for enforcing OSH standards, wages, and work hours; however, enforcement was ineffective.  Penalties for violations of the law were commensurate with those for crimes such as negligence but were rarely applied against violators.According to the Labor Inspectorate, workers typically reported improper termination, not abuses of safety standards.  The most common remedy for violations was for the labor inspector to visit the offending business and explain how to correct the violation.  If the business corrected the violation, there was no penalty.  Inspectors had authority to make unannounced inspections and initiate sanctions.  By law, migrant workers who obtained residency and work permits should enjoy the same legal protections and working conditions as citizens, but the law was unevenly enforced.  The estimated size of the informal sector was approximately 40 percent.  The government did not enforce labor laws in the informal sector.																																				    							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Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																							a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																						b. Disappearance																																																						c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																				Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																				d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																				Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																				e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																				Trial Procedures																																												Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																																																				f. Transnational Repression																																																						g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																						h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																			Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																							a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																				Internet Freedom																																																																																				b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																				Freedom of Peaceful Assembly																																												Freedom of Association																																																																																				c. Freedom of Religion																																																						d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																						e. Protection of Refugees																																																			Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																							Elections and Political Participation																																																			Section 4. Corruption in Government																Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																							Women																																																						Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																						Children																																																						Antisemitism																																																						Trafficking in Persons																																																						Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																						Persons with Disabilities																																																			Section 7. Worker Rights																																							a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																						b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																						c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																						d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																						e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																									Tags																					Bureau of African Affairs																								Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																								Djibouti
- Special Envoy for Sudan Perriello Travels to Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates Office of the SpokespersonSpecial Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello will travel to Africa and the Middle East March 11-23, demonstrating the priority the Administration places on ending the Sudan conflict, meeting the immediate and dire humanitarian needs of the Sudanese people, and charting a path toward civilian, democratic government.In Kampala, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, and Cairo, the Special Envoy will meet with a broad range of Sudanese civilians, including civil society, Resistance Committees, Emergency Response Room members, women, youth, and other Sudanese grassroots organizations and parties to hear their perspectives on how to bolster their efforts to respond to urgent needs, demand an end to the conflict, and prepare for a democratic transition in Sudan.In each of these capitals, as well as in, Djibouti, Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi, he will meet key African, regional, and multilateral partners to align efforts to bring an end to the devastating Sudan conflict.
- Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Hammer Travels to Djibouti, Qatar, and Ethiopia Office of the SpokespersonU.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Mike Hammer will travel to Djibouti, Qatar, and Ethiopia from December 7-17.  In Djibouti, Ambassador Hammer will attend the 41st Extraordinary Summit of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Assembly Heads of State and Government on Sudan and meet with Djiboutian officials.  SEHOA Hammer will support regional and international efforts on Sudan to end the conflict, promote a democratic transition, press for unhindered humanitarian access, and support justice and accountability for victims of the violence.In Qatar, Ambassador Hammer will participate in the Doha Forum.  He will discuss with Qatari officials regional and international efforts to end the ongoing violence in Sudan and advance stability in the Horn of Africa.In Ethiopia, SEHOA Hammer intends to meet with African Union officials to coordinate efforts on Sudan and other regional priorities.  He will also urge Ethiopian officials to continue implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement on northern Ethiopia, including making progress on disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration as well as transitional justice and accountability.  Ambassador Hammer will urge negotiated resolutions to ongoing violence in the Amhara and Oromia regions, calling on all parties to protect civilians, refrain from hate speech, and respect human rights.
- Djibouti HomeReportsBureau of CounterterrorismCountry Reports on Terrorism 2022&#8230;Djibouti				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							Country Reports on Terrorism 2022: Djibouti																																					Bureau of Counterterrorism																																																																																																				 In this section																																												Djibouti																																												Djibouti				Overview:  Djibouti is a critical partner for the United States and the region in the fight against terrorism.  Since 2002, Djibouti has hosted Camp Lemonnier, the headquarters of AFRICOM’s Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, among several other U.S. military and government tenants, and the only enduring U.S. military installation in Africa.  Given Djibouti’s proximity to prominent terrorist organizations such as al-Shabaab that control territory in neighboring Somalia, Djiboutian government officials — particularly those in law enforcement and the Ministry of Islamic and Cultural Affairs — prioritize counterterrorism (CT) efforts and identify and address potential terrorist activity.  The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the regional organization headquartered in Djibouti, also maintains a Center of Excellence for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (ICEPCVE), providing training and resources to counter violent extremism throughout the region.  Djibouti’s armed forces deploy two battalions to the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).2022 Terrorist Attacks:  There were no significant incidents in 2022.Legislation, Law Enforcement, and Border Security:  Following an attack by the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD)-Armée movement  on Djiboutian military forces in October, the National Assembly of Djibouti adopted a law to designate the small armed rebel group  as a domestic terrorist organization, a major shift in the two-decade rebellion.  The governments of Ethiopia and Djibouti subsequently increased cross-border security cooperation.  Djibouti has a legal framework for prosecuting terrorism-related crimes and can try those charged of terrorism-related offenses in criminal courts, using its penal code.  The United States has not designated the FRUD-Armée as a terrorist group.Djiboutian law enforcement agencies consist of the Djiboutian National Police (DNP), the Djiboutian National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie), the General Directorate for Services of Documentation and Security, and the Djiboutian National Coast Guard — all of which proactively detect, deter, and prevent acts of terrorism in the country.  The DNP, the Gendarmerie, and the Coast Guard use a biometric program that utilizes handheld biometric capture devices, which can generate a DNA profile.  Once populated, the Gendarmerie and Coast Guard DNA database can help law enforcement with identity and limited network analysis, tracking familial relationships.  The DNP will manage and populate its own separate DNA database.Djibouti continued to enhance border security and deter terrorist travel, with security protocols and increased use of criminal databases such as those provided by/acquired from INTERPOL.  The Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System (or PISCES) also continued to assist Djiboutian border security officials with conducting traveler screening and processing travelers through entry and exit points at the international airport and seaports.  While these entry points remain critical, most travelers enter Djibouti by land at one of four border points, one of them at the Somali-Djibouti border.  In addition to Djibouti city area ports, maritime travelers also enter at Obock, located on the north side of the Gulf of Tadjoura.  Djiboutian law enforcement agencies coordinate their CT functions and information sharing.  The DNP controls border checkpoints, with support from the Gendarmerie patrolling between border posts, and the country’s armed forces are responsible for patrolling land borders in remote locations.  To screen for potential security threats, law enforcement agencies also maintain checkpoints and conduct vehicle cordon-and-search operations on the way into and within the capital city.Countering the Financing of Terrorism:  Djibouti is a member of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force, and its FIU is Le Service de Renseignements Financiers.  There were no significant changes in 2022.Countering Violent Extremism:  The Ministry of Justice continued to convene the National Antiterrorism Taskforce, consisting of a national commission of experts, including from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ICEPCVE.  The task force also held several terrorism-related exercises on responses to and the prevention of terrorist attacks, enhancing protection of soft targets such as restaurants, hotels, and grocery stores.  Although law enforcement measures constituted the bulk of Djibouti’s national CT strategy, community engagement — including with youth, sports, culture, and civil society organizations — was an increasingly important feature of its PCVE efforts.  Law enforcement agencies continued to work with the High Islamic Council within the Ministry of Islamic and Cultural Affairs to identify and monitor activity that promotes violent extremism.International and Regional Cooperation:  Djibouti hosts IGAD’s executive secretariat.  Additionally, the IGAD ICEPCVE is based in Djibouti and provides training and resources on PCVE throughout the region, including representatives from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.  The Djiboutian military continued its participation in ATMIS, which counts Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda as the other four Troop Contributing Countries.																												    							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- Djibouti HomeReportsBureau of Economic and Business Affairs2023 Investment Climate Statements&#8230;Djibouti				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Investment Climate Statements: Djibouti																																																																																												 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment																																																									Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment																																																																											Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment																																																																											Other Investment Policy Reviews																																																																											Business Facilitation																																																																											Outward Investment																																																																																	2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties																															3. Legal Regime																																																									Transparency of the Regulatory System																																																																											International Regulatory Considerations																																																																											Legal System and Judicial Independence																																																																											Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment																																																																											Competition and Antitrust Laws																																																																											Expropriation and Compensation																																																																											Dispute Settlement																																																																			ICSID Convention and New York Convention																																																								Investor-State Dispute Settlement																																																								International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts																																																																																																																		Bankruptcy Regulations																																																																																	4. Industrial Policies																																																									Investment Incentives																																																																											Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation																																																																											Performance and Data Localization Requirements																																																																																	5. Protection of Property Rights																																																									Real Property																																																																											Intellectual Property Rights																																																																																	6. Financial Sector																																																									Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment																																																																											Money and Banking System																																																																											Foreign Exchange and Remittances																																																																			Foreign Exchange																																																								Remittance Policies																																																																																																																		Sovereign Wealth Funds																																																																																	7. State-Owned Enterprises																																																									Privatization Program																																																																																	8. Responsible Business Conduct																																																									Additional Resources																																																																											Climate Issues																																																																																	9. Corruption																																																									Resources to Report Corruption																																																																																	10. Political and Security Environment																															11. Labor Policies and Practices																															12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs																															13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics																															14. Contact for More Information																																																					EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				Djibouti, a country with few resources, recognizes the crucial need for foreign direct investment (FDI) to stimulate economic development, especially as the country recovers from two years of exogenous shocks to its economy, such as global shipping disruption due to the pandemic and regional conflicts. The country’s assets include a strategic geographic location, free zones, an open trade regime, and a stable currency. Djibouti has identified a number of priority sectors for investment, including transport and logistics, real estate, energy, agriculture, and tourism.Since 2020, the government has instituted several initiatives aimed at improving competitiveness both regionally and internationally. These reforms included starting online registration for companies and the creation of the Djibouti Port Community System platform, which provide a comprehensive set of online services to the business community. The EU also funded a revision to the investment code in 2022 intended to rationalize investment incentives and improve transparency. This revision and implementation are ongoing.Economic development and foreign investment are hindered by high electricity costs, high unemployment, an unskilled workforce, a large informal sector, regional instability, opaque business practices, compliance risks, corruption, and a weak financial sector.Table 1: Key Metrics and RankingsMeasureYearIndex/RankWebsite AddressTI Corruption Perceptions Index2022130 of 180 http://www.transparency.org/research/cpi/overview Global Innovation IndexN/AN/A https://www.globalinnovationindex.org/analysis-indicator U.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, historical stock positions)N/AN/A https://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet World Bank GNI per capita2021USD 3080 http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD 																																					1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment						    																																																Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment										Djibouti’s laws encourage FDI, with the government as a driving force behind Djibouti’s economic growth. Faced with an unemployment rate of over 47%, Djibouti looks to FDI to generate jobs. There are no laws, practices, or mechanisms that discriminate against foreign investors. Navigating the bureaucracy can be complicated. FDI is encouraged by policy and foreign companies are often able to negotiate favorable tax terms on a case-by-case basis.The government very gradually continues to open public sector entities, including state owned utilities, to private investment. In 2021 the government invited proposals for a strategic investor in the state-owned telecommunications monopoly. The energy sector remains open to competition through power purchase agreements; however, the state-owned electric utility retains all rights to the transmission and distribution of electricity. This liberalization of production has resulted in the private development of wind, solar, and waste to energy resources.Djibouti’s National Investment Promotion Agency (NIPA), created in 2001, promotes private-sector investment, facilitates investment operations, and works to modernize the country’s regulatory framework. NIPA assists foreign and domestic investors by disseminating information and streamlining administrative procedures. Since 2017, NIPA’s one-stop-shop, which houses several agencies under one roof, has simplified business registration. NIPA has identified several priority sectors for investment, including infrastructure and renewable energy.The Secretariat of State in charge of Investment and Private Sector Development, established in May 2021, is in charge of implementing the business climate policy, investment promotion and private sector development. This agency works in coordination with the Ministry of Economy and Finance. It ensures that the business environment is internationally competitive and conducive to private initiatives. It identifies administrative reforms that remove obstacles to the proper functioning of the private sector.																																				Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment										Foreign and domestic private entities have equal rights in establishing and owning business enterprises and engaging in all forms of remunerative activity.  Furthermore, foreign investors are not required by law to have a local partner except in the insurance industry, and then, only if the company is registered as a local company and not as a branch of an existing foreign company.  Nevertheless, some foreign companies choose to have a local partner to help them better navigate the local bureaucracy and cultural sensitivities.  There is no established screening process for FDI.																																				Other Investment Policy Reviews										The OECD, WTO, and the UNCTAD have not conducted an investment policy review (IPR) for Djibouti in the last five years.  The Business and Human Rights Resource Center conducted a review in 2022 of Djibouti’s Doraleh Multipurpose Port (DMP) which focused on the DMP’s financing by China Eximbank. This report can be found here: https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/djibouti-doraleh-multipurpose-port-phase-i/																																				Business Facilitation										The government of Djibouti has facilitated the registration of business by reducing the capital needed for investment, simplifying the formalities needed to register and simplifying certain tax procedures.  The most important facilitation effort is the one-stop-shop, or Guichet Unique, managed by NIPA.  The Guichet Unique ( http://www.guichet-unique.dj ) brings together all the agencies with which a company must register.Typically, a company registers with the following Djiboutian offices:  Office of Intellectual Property, Tax office, and the Social Security office.  Online registration is not possible; the normal registration process takes 14 days, according to the World Bank.  In Djibouti, new businesses must have every document notarized to begin operations.																																				Outward Investment										The government neither promotes nor restricts outward investment.																																												2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties						    																						Djibouti does not have a bilateral investment treaty (BIT), nor does it have a bilateral taxation treaty with the United States.  Djibouti is eligible to benefit from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).  The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), of which Djibouti is a member, signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) with the United States in 2001.In March 2018, Djibouti signed the trade agreement for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).  Djibouti has signed bilateral investment treaties with several countries. There is no publicly available list of these treaties, and the terms are not standardized from one treaty to the next.  Other treaties to which Djibouti is a party include ESA (Eastern and Southeastern Africa)-EU Interim Economic Partnership Agreement, Agreement for the Promotion, Protection and Guarantee of Investment among Member States of the Organization of Islamic Conference, Cotonou Agreement, AU Treaty, League of Arab States Investment, Arab League Investment Agreement, and Arab Economic Unity Agreement.Djibouti is a member of the OECD Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting and is also party to the Inclusive Framework’s October 2021 statement on the two-pillar solution to global tax challenges, including a global minimum corporate tax																																		3. Legal Regime						    																																																Transparency of the Regulatory System										Government policies are sometimes not transparent, and do not foster competition on a non-discriminatory basis.  Likewise, the legal, regulatory, and accounting systems are not always transparent nor are they consistent with international norms.  Rule-making and regulatory authority exists at the state level.The Djiboutian accounting system is loosely based on the French accounting system as it existed at independence (1977) with subsequent updates.The regulatory regime is written in a way that promotes open competition, but application of the rules is not always consistent.  Draft bills are initiated by the relevant ministry in consultation with stakeholders from relevant ministries or public institutions.  Laws are then proposed by the relevant ministry, and then debated and passed by the parliament.  The promulgation by the president is the last stage.Regulatory actions including laws and decrees are available online:   https://www.presidence.dj/jord .  Ministries and regulatory agencies do not develop forward regulatory plans – that is, a public list of anticipated regulatory changes or proposals intended to be adopted/implemented within a specified time frame.The government has no environmental, social, and governance disclosure requirement.The State Inspector General (SGI) is tasked with ensuring human and material resources in the public sector are properly utilized.  It also acts as an enforcement mechanism to ensure administrative processes are followed.Public finances and the terms of debt obligations are opaque.																																				International Regulatory Considerations										Djibouti is a member of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).  The regulatory systems in these countries are not yet harmonized.  European norms and standards, especially French, are referenced in Djibouti.  Djibouti is a member of the WTO.																																				Legal System and Judicial Independence										Djibouti’s legal system is based on Civil law, inherited from the French Napoleonic Code.  It consists of three courts:  a Court of First Instance presided over by a single judge; a Court of Appeals, with three judges; and the Supreme Court.  In addition, Islamic law (shariah) and traditional law is practiced.  Djibouti has a written commercial code and specialized courts, including commercial, criminal, administrative, and civilian courts.The court system is de jure independent from executive power but may be susceptible to political pressure.  Most investors request the right to counsel, including agreements for arbitration, in a recognized international court.  International lawyers practicing in Djibouti have reported effective application of maritime and other commercial laws, but in the past, foreign companies operating in Djibouti have reported that court deliberations were biased or delayed.																																				Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment										The country’s legal system has no discriminatory policy against foreign investment, and frequently negotiates extended tax breaks and other incentives to attract larger investments.  In conjunction with UNCTAD, NIPA developed an investment guide that provides useful information: https://www.theiguides.org/public-docs/guides/djibouti.The Djibouti Office of Industrial and Commercial Protection (ODPIC) is the agency in charge of registering businesses.  Its website contains information about the registration process:   https://odpic.net/ .																																				Competition and Antitrust Laws										In 2008, Djibouti adopted a law on competition and consumer protection, which does not cover state-owned enterprises, such as electricity and telecommunications.  Under this law, the Government of Djibouti regulates prices in areas where competition remains limited.  For example, the government regulates postal services, telecommunications, utilities, and urban transport services.  Djibouti does not have an agency that specifically promotes competition and does not have a comprehensive strategy to restrict market monopolies.																																				Expropriation and Compensation										Foreign companies enjoy the same benefits as domestic companies under Djibouti’s Investment Code.  The Investment Code stipulates that “no partial or total, temporary or permanent expropriation will take place without equitable compensation for the damages suffered.”  There are no known recent cases of U.S. companies in Djibouti being subject to expropriation.  There have been cases of foreign companies facing de facto expropriation via fines, while other companies have had their concession to run a public service unilaterally revoked (see discussion below about DP World).  The government may expropriate land when it is needed for public utility.  In that case, the government will compensate the landowner by providing land at a different location or by cash settlement.																																				Dispute Settlement																										ICSID Convention and New York Convention						On April 12, 2019, Djibouti signed the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States (ICSID Convention, also known as the Washington Convention).  Djibouti made its deposit of ratification on June 9, 2020 for an entry into force on July 9, 2020.Djibouti is a contracting member of the New York Convention of 1958 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards.						Investor-State Dispute Settlement						Djibouti’s government has had only a few investment disputes in the past several years, none with U.S. businesses.  In some cases, the disputes have been settled in international arbitration courts and the government has abided by those decisions.  In other cases, there has been de facto expropriation through large fines.The February 2018 abrogation of Djibouti’s contract with DP World to operate the Doraleh Container Terminal, which nationalizing the equipment, physical assets, and land continues to be under arbitration and in court for enforcement of arbitration awards. Throughout, DP World has continued to claim that the 30-year 2006 Doraleh Container Terminal concession agreement remains in force while the government contends that the agreement was obtained inappropriately.  Most recently, in February 2023 a U.S. court upheld a USD468 million award made by the London Court of International Arbitration in favor of DP World. Other arbitration cases connected to the situation remain in process.						International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts						There is no domestic arbitration body within the country.  In February 2014, the IGAD countries agreed to set up an international Business Arbitration Center in Djibouti.  This institution provides a mechanism for resolving business disputes and helps create a more transparent business environment in the region by reinforcing the principles of contract law and increasing the number of lawyers practicing commercial and contract law in Djibouti.  Investment dispute cases are not made public.																										Bankruptcy Regulations										Djibouti has bankruptcy laws, and bankruptcy is not criminalized.																																												4. Industrial Policies						    																																																Investment Incentives										Tax benefits and incentives fall under two categories detailed in the investment code.  Investments greater than DJF 50 million (USD 282,486) that create several permanent jobs may be exempted from license and registration fees, property taxes, taxes on industrial and commercial profits, and taxes on the profits of corporate entities.  Imported raw materials used in manufacturing are exempted from the internal consumption tax.  These exemptions apply for up to a maximum of ten years after companies start producing materials in Djibouti.  Incentives are often unique to an individual company or investment and are agreed upon with relevant ministries.  Projects can be delayed if all relevant ministries are not consulted during negotiations.  To promote exports, Djibouti has multiple free zones where companies enjoy full exemption from direct and indirect taxes for a period of up to ten years.																																				Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation										The Djibouti Free Zone (DFZ) is located on 40 hectares and offers office space, warehouses, light industrial units, and hangars.  Businesses located in the Free Zone do not pay corporate taxes, have a simplified registration process, and receive other benefits such as assistance obtaining work permits and visas.  Currently, 180 companies from more than 30 countries operate out of the Free Zone.  In December 2013, the DAM Commercial Free Zone opened in the Damerjog region, south of Djibouti City.  In March 2018, the Djibouti Ports and Free Zone Authority and China Merchants Group began construction on a large free zone called Djibouti International Free Trade Zone (DIFTZ).  The first phase, a 240-hectare pilot zone is currently operational.  It consists of four industrial clusters which will focus on trade and logistics, export processing, business, and financial support services, as well as manufacturing and duty-free merchandise retail.   When complete it will cover 4,800 hectares and offer office space, warehouses, industrial units, and will be connected directly with the ports in later phases.  It will be the largest free zone in Africa.Djibouti Damerjog Industrial Development (DDID) free-trade zone is in its first of three five-year phases. The project includes a multipurpose port, a liquefied natural gas terminal, a livestock terminal, dry docks and a ship repair area, a power plant and a factory that will produce construction materials.  DDID will offer all the preferential policies guaranteed by the free zone authority, such as tax exemption, minimized restrictions on foreign labor and competitive water and electricity rates.																																				Performance and Data Localization Requirements										The government does not follow “forced localization.”  The Djiboutian investment code guarantees investors the right to freely import all goods, equipment, products, or material necessary for their investments; display products and services; determine and run marketing policy and production; choose customers and suppliers; and set prices.  Performance requirements are not a pre-condition for establishing, maintaining, or expanding foreign direct investments.  Incentives do, however, increase with the size of the investment and the number of jobs created.There are no measures that prevent or unduly impede companies from freely transmitting customer or other business-related data outside the economy/country’s territory.  There are no rules requiring local data storage within Djibouti.																																												5. Protection of Property Rights						    																																																Real Property										Djibouti’s legal system officially protects the acquisition and disposition of all property rights. Mortgages exist and are often guaranteed by the employer, who signs a form indicating the employee’s status and salary.  The employer is then obliged to inform the bank if the employee leaves the company.  Local workers rely on this mechanism to secure mortgages, and they expect that their employer will perform this role.  Typically, the government originally owns and sells the land.  There are no specific restrictions on foreign ownership of land.  All property owners who have legally obtained their land are registered.  Even if unoccupied, the property belongs to the owner who legally purchased it.																																				Intellectual Property Rights										Djibouti is not listed in the U.S Trade Representative (USTR) Special 301 report or the Notorious Markets List.Djibouti’s legal structure for protecting and enforcing IPR is weak but developing.  There are few existing protections.  However, the government passed a law that protects artists’ copyrights.Djibouti ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Convention, the Paris Convention on the Protection of Industrial Rights, and the Berne Convention on the Protection of Literature and Art Works.  The Djibouti Office for Intellectual Property Rights is responsible for safeguarding intellectual property after registering products.  Counterfeit products are commonly available in Djibouti’s markets. Infringing products include clothing, watches, electronics, and bags.  Because of the nascent nature of IPR protections, counterfeit products are rarely seized, and no statistics on seizures are published.  There have been reports of seizures of counterfeit money; however, statistics are unavailable.Compared to other industries, the sale of counterfeit goods does not appear to be at higher risk of labor rights violations, including child labor, forced labor, and dangerous working conditions.For additional information about treaty obligations and points of contact at local IP offices, please see WIPO’s country profiles at  http://www.wipo.int/directory/en/ .																																												6. Financial Sector						    																																																Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment										Djibouti is open to and receptive of foreign investors.  Djibouti does not have its own stock market, but some multinational companies with investments in Djibouti are publicly traded.  Portfolio investment in Djibouti is primarily done through private equity investments in a given sector, rather than through purchase of securities.  Investments in Djibouti are inherently illiquid for that reason, and the purchase or sale of any sizeable investment in Djibouti affects the market accordingly.  Existing policies respect IMF Article VIII and allow the free flow of funds for international transactions.Credit is allocated on market terms, and foreign companies do not face discrimination in obtaining it.  Generally, however, only well-established businesses obtain bank credit, as the cost of credit is high.  Credit is available to the private sector, whether foreign or domestic.  Where credit is not available, it is primarily due to the associated risk and not structural factors.																																				Money and Banking System										Three large banks, Bank of Africa, Bank for Commerce and Industry – Mer Rouge, and CAC bank dominate Djibouti’s banking sector. While these three banks account for the majority share of deposits in-country, there are 13 total banks, all established in the last 14 years.  The 2011 banking law fixed the minimum capital requirement for financial institutions at DJF 1 billion (USD 5,651,250) and also covers financial auxiliaries, such as money transfer agencies and Islamic financial institutions.  In addition to the three names banks above, foreign banks include Silkroad Bank, Bank of China, and the Burkina Faso-based International Business Bank.The banking sector suffers from a lack of consistent supervision, but it has been improving. Non-performing loans decreased from 16.26% in 2019 to 13.31% in 2020 and to 9.8% in 2021.  The total assets of all the banks were estimated to be USD 3.1 billion in 2020, of which 80% were held by the four largest banks. The country has a Central Bank, which is in charge of delivering licenses to banks and supervising them.  Foreign banks or branches are allowed to establish operations in the country.  They are subject to the same regulations as local banks.  Djibouti has not announced that it intends to implement or allow the implementation of blockchain technologies in its banking transactions.In order to improve access, some banks have begun to provide mobile and e-banking services.  In June 2020, Djibouti Telecom launched D-Money, a Digital Mobile Money service which allows users to make digital money transfers and payments directly from mobile phones.																																				Foreign Exchange and Remittances																										Foreign Exchange						Djibouti has no foreign exchange restrictions.  Businesses are free to repatriate profits.  There are no limitations on converting or transferring funds, or on the inflow and outflow of cash.  The Djiboutian franc, which has been pegged to the U.S. dollar since 1949, is stable.  The fixed exchange rate is 177.71 Djiboutian francs to the U.S. dollar.  Funds can be transferred by using banks or international money transfer companies such as Western Union, all monitored by the Central Bank.						Remittance Policies						There are no recent changes or plans to change investment remittance policies.  There are no time limitations on remittances.  The government does not issue bonds on the open market, and cash-like instruments are not in common use in Djibouti, so direct currency transfers are the only practical method of remitting profits.																										Sovereign Wealth Funds										In mid-2020 the Djiboutian government announced the creation of a Sovereign Wealth Fund.  According to a government statement, the state-owned fund targets investments locally and in neighboring countries in the Horn of Africa.  It focuses on industries including telecommunications, technology, energy, and logistics.  The fund acts as a long-term investor and is required to reinvest the entire net profits of its activity.  The government aims to fund it to $1.5 billion within ten years.  Article 12 of Law N° 75/AN/20/8th L, creating the Sovereign Fund of Djibouti, states the fund will adopt and implement best practice in terms of transparency and performance reporting in accordance with the Santiago Principles.  As of late 2021, the fund was ramping up operations.																																												7. State-Owned Enterprises						    																						Wholly owned SOEs control telecommunications, water, and electricity distribution in Djibouti.  Major print, television, and radio outlets are also state-run.  Additionally, Djibouti’s ports, airport, and free zones are managed by an SOE.  There is a state-owned national airline that is wholly managed by the ports and free zones authority.  SOEs are required by law to publish an annual report, but this requirement is not actively enforced.  The Court of Auditors is charged with auditing SOEs, but they have not yet released assets, income, employment, or other details about the SOEs.  There is no publicly available complete list of SOEs.State-run services, such as municipal garbage collection and real estate, do not hold legal monopolies, but are afforded material advantages by the government, e.g., government-backed loan guarantees for the real estate sector.  Djibouti is not party to the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) within the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO).In order to exercise ownership in SOEs, the government uses several laws and decrees, most of which were promulgated in the 1990s.  The established practices are not consistent with OECD guidelines.  No centralized ownership entity exists.  SOE senior management reports directly to the relevant line ministry.  There is also an independent board of directors whose members are chosen from other ministries																										Privatization Program										A few SOEs have been privatized, such as a milk factory in 2021 and a water bottling plant in 2015.  No particular sector has been targeted, although the government has indicated that all sectors may eventually be up for privatization.  In 2021, the government announced that it was seeking a strategic investor to purchase a 40% stake in Djibouti Telecom, the monopoly telecommunications SOE.  This process is being managed by an international consultant.																																												8. Responsible Business Conduct						    																						There is nascent but growing awareness among both companies and consumers in Djibouti of Responsible Business Conduct (RBC).  Businesses which might harm the environment are, in general, obligated to conduct studies on the environmental impact before proceeding with their project.  The government does not promote RBC in a systematic way, although it does acknowledge good corporate social responsibility and covers it favorably in state media.  However, the government does not factor RBC policies or practices into its procurement decisions.  There are no corporate governance, accounting, or executive compensation standards to protect stakeholders.  The government does not adhere to OECD guidelines in RBC matters.  There have been reports that the government does not effectively and fairly enforce domestic laws relating to labor rights, environmental protections, consumer protections, and human rights.  There are no independent NGOs, investment funds, worker organizations, or associations that monitor RBC in Djibouti.  Djibouti has a salt extraction industry, but it does not participate in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative or the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights.																										Additional Resources										Department of StateCountry Reports on Human Rights Practices ( https://www.state.gov/reports-bureau-of-democracy-human-rights-and-labor/country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/)Trafficking in Persons Report ( https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/)Guidance on Implementing the &#8220;UN Guiding Principles&#8221; for Transactions Linked to Foreign Government End-Users for Products or Services with Surveillance Capabilities ( https://www.state.gov/key-topics-bureau-of-democracy-human-rights-and-labor/due-diligence-guidance/)U.S. National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises ( https://www.state.gov/u-s-national-contact-point-for-the-oecd-guidelines-for-multinational-enterprises/)Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory ( https://www.state.gov/xinjiang-supply-chain-business-advisory/)Department of the TreasuryOFAC Recent Actions ( https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions )Department of LaborFindings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor Report ( https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings  )List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor ( https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/reports/child-labor/list-of-goods )Sweat &amp; Toil: Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking Around the World ( https://www.dol.gov/general/apps/ilab )Comply Chain ( https://www.dol.gov/ilab/complychain/ )																																				Climate Issues										The national climate strategy includes a number of actions to strengthen or build capacity in the field with a view of reducing the vulnerability of the coastal zone to climate change.  Priority is on addressing extreme floods, inundations, and marine submersion.Post is not aware of any government introduction of policies to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.There are government policies that establish marine protected areas in order to contribute to the conservation of Djibouti&#8217;s marine biodiversity and other desirable ecological benefits.In order to support coastal populations affected by climate change, the government has put in place a program to improve their resilience and mitigate their vulnerability while adopting a co-management approach to protect marine resources.																																												9. Corruption						    																						Djibouti has several laws to combat corruption by public officials.  These laws were either passed by the government or contained in the Penal Code.  However, there have been no records of cases to combat corruption by public officials.  Corruption laws are extended to all family members of officials and across political parties, but they have not been applied in a non-discriminatory manner.  Djibouti ranked 128 of 180 countries on the 2021 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index.  Djibouti does not have laws or regulations to counter conflict-of-interest in awarding contracts or government procurement.Djibouti is a party to the UN Convention against Corruption.  There are two government entities responsible for investigating corruption and enforcing the regulations.  The State Inspector General (SGI) is tasked with ensuring human and material resources in the public sector are properly utilized.  The Court of Auditors is mandated to verify and audit all public establishments for transparency and accountability, and to implement necessary legal sanctions.  Both institutions are mandated to produce annual corruption reports.  Despite the legal mandates, both institutions lack the authority to push for meaningful reform.  The National Commission for Anti-Corruption is also mandated to enforce the laws on combatting corruption and provide safe haven for whistleblowers.  This Commission launched a program in March 2018 to urge high-ranking government officials to publicly declare all of their assets, with little success.  The contracting code and other laws passed by Djibouti contain provisions to counter conflict-of-interest contracts or government procurement.According to a law passed in 2013, the government requires private and public companies to establish internal codes of conduct that prevent and prohibit bribery of public officials.  However, these codes have not been implemented.  Likewise, the government requirement that private companies use internal controls, ethics, and compliance to detect and prevent bribery of government officials is not enforced.  Djibouti is not party to the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions.  Djibouti is a signatory country of the UN Convention against Corruption.U.S. firms have not specifically noted corruption as an obstacle to foreign direct investment in Djibouti, but there were allegations of foreign companies having to meet requirements such as renting houses owned by senior officials or hiring certain employees as a condition of receiving government procurement contracts.  In addition, one company reported harassment of employees by local competitors.  Prosecution and punishment for corruption is rare.																										Resources to Report Corruption										Contact at the government agency responsible for combating corruption:Fatouma Mahamoud AbdillahiPresidentCommission Nationale Independante pour la Prevention et de Lutte Contre la CorruptionPlateau du Serpent+253 21 35 16 03 anticorruption@intnet.dj No “watchdog” organizations are present in Djibouti.																																												10. Political and Security Environment						    																						Djibouti has seen only very limited episodes of political violence over the last two decades.  In the last ten years, there have been no known incidents of political violence leading to damage to foreign investments.  Both the ruling coalition party and the recognized opposition parties favor foreign direct investment into Djibouti and local attitudes towards foreigners are positive.Djibouti held presidential elections April 9, 2021, with President Ismael Omar Guelleh winning a fifth consecutive term with 98% of the vote.  His 22-year reign has contributed to stability and economic growth, but questions of succession and subsequent instability remain.																																		11. Labor Policies and Practices						    																						Djibouti’s official unemployment rate is 47%.  Youth unemployment, defined locally as the share of the labor force between age 15 and 24 without work but that is available and actively seeing employment, has remained between 11% and 12% in the past three decades.  Estimates of a sizeable informal labor market of up to 75% exist in Djibouti, with a larger informal market outside of the capital city of Djibouti.  The informal market consists mostly of individual operating units, is poorly structured, and is concentrated in trade, import-export, construction, various services and handicrafts.  In Djibouti, women are largely predominant in the activities of the informal economy.  The formal labor market is heavily service- or government-oriented with growing markets in construction, logistics, and transportation.  Skilled Djiboutian workers, especially in high-demand trades such as construction, are in short supply.Djibouti has complicated labor laws that favor the employee, especially in the areas of disputes and termination.  Vocational and professional training facilities remain limited.  The World Bank, the Ministry of Finance, USAID, and other entities are working on a variety of initiatives to address the shortage of workforce development programs.  The government has promoted entrepreneurship as a means of stimulating the economy.  The government, in partnership with the World Bank and European Union, opened the entrepreneurship and leadership center (CLE &#8211;  Centre Leadership Entreprenariat ) to assist start-up companies.Foreign workers are legally allowed to work in Djibouti only if their qualifications or expertise are not available among the nationals, as determined by the Ministry of Labor through the National Agency for Employment, Training, and Professional Integration (ANEFIP).  This requirement is not strictly implemented. In January 2017, the cost for a work permit was reviewed and classified in three different categories based on the type of profession with respective annual fees of 50,000 Djibouti francs (USD 281), 100,000 Djibouti francs (USD 563) and Djibouti francs 200,000 (USD 1,125).  ANEFIP maintains a database of Djiboutian job-seekers and issues work permits to foreign workers.Employers have to abide by the Labor Code.  Workers who are laid off get more compensation than employees who are fired.  No unemployment insurance or other social safety net programs exist for workers laid off for economic reasons.  Only those workers who contributed to the social insurance for 25 years and are sixty years of age are entitled to retirement benefits.Minimum wage for government positions is DJF 45,000 (USD 254) per month; there is no minimum wage established in law for private companies.  By law, all employers are obligated to make social security payments on behalf of their employees, through the National Council for Social Security.  Two large labor unions exist in Djibouti, but only the Djiboutian Workers Union is recognized by international organizations.Labor laws are not waived to attract investment, but the investment code and free zones have separate legal provisions to attract investment.  By law, labor unions are independent of the government and employers.  In practice they can be influenced by the government and/or employers.  In case of labor disputes, the Labor Inspector will bring together the employer and the employee to settle the case acting as a mediator.  If the mediation fails, then the case will be sent to the Court.  The process is opaque and the results are not publicized.In November 2020, the National Assembly amended the Labor Code to require companies employing 11 or more employees to report annually on the status of its workforce.  This report aims to prevent companies from hiring foreigners illegally, not respecting legally allowed pregnancy leave, and/or illegally firing employees.																																		12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs						    																						Djibouti is eligible for Development Finance Corporation (DFC) programs.  Djibouti is a member of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), which guaranteed the loan for the construction of the Doraleh Container Terminal in 2009.																																		13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics						    																						Table 2: Key Macroeconomic Data, U.S. FDI in Host Country/EconomyHost Country Statistical source*USG or international statistical sourceUSG or International Source of Data:  BEA; IMF; Eurostat; UNCTAD, OtherEconomic DataYearAmountYearAmountHost Country Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ($M USD)2021$3,4822021$23,315,080www.worldbank.org/en/country Foreign Direct InvestmentHost Country Statistical source*USG or international statistical sourceUSG or international Source of data:  BEA; IMF; Eurostat; UNCTAD, OtherU.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, stock positions)N/AN/AN/AN/ABEA data available at https://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet/Host country’s FDI in the United States ($M USD, stock positions)N/AN/AN/AN/ABEA data available at https://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet/ Total inbound stock of FDI as % host GDP20214.58%N/AN/aUNCTAD data available athttps://unctad.org/topic/investment/world-investment-report   * Source for Host Country Data: N/ATable 3: Sources and Destination of FDIData not available.																																		14. Contact for More Information						    																						Commercial Section U.S. Embassy DjiboutiLot 350-B HaramoussB.P. 185 Djibouti+253 (21) 45 30 00 djibouticommerce@state.gov 																										    							View report by:																				Albania											Algeria											Andorra											Angola											Antigua and Barbuda											Argentina											Armenia											Australia											Austria											Azerbaijan											The Bahamas											Bahrain											Bangladesh											Barbados											Belarus											Belgium											Belize											Benin											Bolivia											Bosnia and Herzegovina											Botswana											Brazil											Brunei											Bulgaria											Burkina Faso											Burma											Burundi											Cabo Verde											Cambodia											Cameroon											Canada											Chile											China											Colombia											Costa Rica											Côte d’Ivoire											Croatia											Cyprus											Czechia											Democratic Republic of the Congo											Denmark											Djibouti											Dominica											Dominican Republic											Ecuador											Egypt											El Salvador											Equatorial Guinea											Eritrea											Estonia											Eswatini											Ethiopia											Fiji											Finland											France and Monaco											The Gambia											Gabon											Georgia											Germany											Ghana											Greece											Grenada											Guatemala											Guinea											Guyana											Honduras											Haiti											Hong Kong											Hungary											Iceland											India											Indonesia											Iraq											Ireland											Israel											Italy											Jamaica											Japan											Jordan											Kazakhstan											Kenya											Kosovo											Kyrgyz Republic											Laos											Latvia											Lebanon											Lesotho											Liberia											Libya											Lithuania											Luxembourg											Macau											Madagascar											Malawi											Malaysia											Maldives											Mali											Malta											Marshall Islands											Mauritania											Mauritius											Mexico											Micronesia											Moldova											Mongolia											Montenegro											Morocco											Mozambique											Namibia											Netherlands											Nepal											New Zealand											Nicaragua											Niger											Nigeria											North Macedonia											Norway											Oman											Pakistan											Palau											Panama											Papua New Guinea											Paraguay											Peru											Philippines											Poland											Portugal											Qatar											Republic of the Congo											Romania											Rwanda											Saint Kitts and Nevis											Saint Lucia											Saint Vincent and the Grenadines											Samoa											Sao Tome and Principe											Saudi Arabia											Senegal											Serbia											Seychelles											Sierra Leone											Singapore											Slovakia											Slovenia											Somalia											South Africa											South Korea											South Sudan											Spain											Sri Lanka											Suriname											Sweden											Switzerland											Taiwan											Tajikistan											Tanzania											Thailand											Timor-Leste											Togo											Trinidad and Tobago											Tunisia											Türkiye											United Arab Emirates											Uganda											Ukraine											United Kingdom											Uruguay											Uzbekistan											Vietnam											West Bank and Gaza											Zambia											Zimbabwe															Build A Custom Report																						On This Page				search													>																										EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment																																							Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment																																																						Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment																																																						Other Investment Policy Reviews																																																						Business Facilitation																																																						Outward Investment																																																			2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties																3. Legal Regime																																							Transparency of the Regulatory System																																																						International Regulatory Considerations																																																						Legal System and Judicial Independence																																																						Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment																																																						Competition and Antitrust Laws																																																						Expropriation and Compensation																																																						Dispute Settlement																																																				ICSID Convention and New York Convention																																												Investor-State Dispute Settlement																																												International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts																																																																																				Bankruptcy Regulations																																																			4. Industrial Policies																																							Investment Incentives																																																						Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation																																																						Performance and Data Localization Requirements																																																			5. Protection of Property Rights																																							Real Property																																																						Intellectual Property Rights																																																			6. Financial Sector																																							Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment																																																						Money and Banking System																																																						Foreign Exchange and Remittances																																																				Foreign Exchange																																												Remittance Policies																																																																																				Sovereign Wealth Funds																																																			7. State-Owned Enterprises																																							Privatization Program																																																			8. Responsible Business Conduct																																							Additional Resources																																																						Climate Issues																																																			9. Corruption																																							Resources to Report Corruption																																																			10. Political and Security Environment																11. Labor Policies and Practices																12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs																13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics																14. Contact for More Information																						Tags																					Bureau of African Affairs																								Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs																								Djibouti
- Djibouti HomeReportsBureau of Economic and Business Affairs2023 Fiscal Transparency Report&#8230;Djibouti				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Fiscal Transparency Report: Djibouti 																																					Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs																																																																																																				 In this section																																												Government-by-Government Assessments: Djibouti 																																												Government-by-Government Assessments: Djibouti 				During the review period, the government published the enacted budget and end-of-year report within a reasonable period. It did not publish the executive budget proposal within a reasonable period. The government did not make information on debt obligations, including major state-owned enterprise debt, publicly available within a reasonable period. Public budget documents did not provide a substantially complete picture of the government’s planned expenditure and revenue. Financial allocations to and earnings from state-owned enterprises were not included in public budget documents. Budget documents were not comparable year-to-year or prepared according to internationally accepted principles. The supreme audit institution did not meet international standards of independence. While the supreme audit institution’s most recent audit report covered the entire annual, executed budget, the report did not contain substantive findings, recommendations, and narratives. The sovereign wealth fund did not have a sound legal framework that established its independence from the presidency. The fund did, however, disclose its source of funding and general approach to withdrawals.Djibouti’s fiscal transparency would be improved by:Making executive budget proposal publicly available, including online;Publishing information on government debt obligations, including for major state-owned enterprises;Including up-to-date allocations to, earnings from, and debt holdings of state-owned enterprises;Providing a substantially complete picture of the government’s planned expenditures and revenue in its budget documents;Ensuring budget documents are comparable year-to-year;Preparing budget documents according to internationally accepted principles;Ensuring the supreme audit institution meets international standards of independence and publishes audit reports of the government’s executed budget;Ensuring audit reports contain substantive findings; andEstablishing a sound legal framework for the sovereign wealth fund.																												    							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- Djibouti National Day Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateOn behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the Djiboutian people on the 46th anniversary of your nation’s independence.The United States and Djibouti have enjoyed a strong partnership for many decades. We look forward to deepening our bonds through greater cooperation on common priorities including economic development, peace and security, and defending the rules-based international order.The United States deeply appreciates Djibouti’s contributions to saving lives and securing lasting and sustainable peace in response to conflicts and crises in the region.
- Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Summit Matthew Miller, Department SpokespersonThe United States warmly congratulates Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh on his election as chairman of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) during the IGAD Summit held in Djibouti June 12. The United States also welcomes the extension of IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu’s tenure.Since its founding nearly 40 years ago, IGAD has been at the center of international efforts to mobilize effective responses to crises in the Horn of Africa, including the ongoing drought and other natural disasters. We also recognize and welcome IGAD’s increasingly active role in conflict resolution in the region.The United States looks forward to continuing to work closely with President Guelleh and IGAD to promote peace and prosperity as well as regional integration and development in East Africa.