Djibouti Strengthens Anti-Corruption Drive

DJIBOUTI CITY, July 1, 2026 - Djibouti's government has approved a series of major legislative, institutional, and development measures aimed at strengthening governance, accelerating economic transformation, reinforcing the judiciary, and expanding public infrastructure during the latest session of the Council of Ministers chaired by President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh. One of the session's flagship decisions was the approval of a draft law to strengthen the prevention and fight against corruption and related offenses. The proposed legislation aligns Djibouti's legal framework with international anti-corruption standards, including the United Nations Convention against Corruption, while responding to recommendations stemming from the country's ongoing Financial Action Task Force (FATF) assessment process. The legislation expands anti-corruption measures across public institutions, private companies, trade unions, and civil society organizations. It also broadens asset declaration requirements, introduces stronger transparency and internal control obligations, consolidates corruption-related offenses under a unified legal framework, and reinforces investigative and enforcement mechanisms. The draft law further enhances the authority of the National Independent Commission for the Prevention and Fight Against Corruption by expanding its oversight powers, particularly regarding asset declarations and administrative sanctions, while improving its governance through fixed six-year mandates and staggered membership renewal. The Council also approved a decree appointing a new Board of Directors for the Ali-Sabieh Cement Plant (CAS), in accordance with public enterprise governance standards. The nine-member board now includes three independent directors, increasing female representation and strengthening compliance with national corporate governance regulations. Board members will serve renewable three-year terms. Another major decision was the formal adoption of Djibouti's Third National Development Plan (PND-ADEEG) covering the period 2025-2030. The strategy establishes the country's principal policy framework for the next five years, focusing on economic diversification, human capital development, governance reforms, and ecological transition. The plan seeks to address persistent challenges including unemployment, limited economic diversification, territorial inequalities, climate vulnerability, and public service delivery. Authorities aim to transform the national economy through structural reforms that promote higher-value industries, productive employment, and sustainable growth. Developed through consultations involving government institutions, local authorities, private sector representatives, civil society organizations, and development partners, the plan targets average annual economic growth of 8.6 percent between 2025 and 2030 while creating more than 6,000 jobs each year. Its implementation is expected to require investments totaling approximately 1.215 trillion Djiboutian francs, supported by an enhanced monitoring and evaluation framework. The Council also approved a broad package of judicial appointments, naming more than twenty new magistrates to serve across the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Courts of First Instance, Personal Status Courts, and public prosecution offices in Djibouti City, Balbala, Dikhil, and Obock. Several senior appointments were made to strengthen the country's judicial institutions and improve the administration of justice nationwide. In the education sector, ministers approved the allocation of a 17,986-square-meter plot of land in the PK12 North housing development to the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training for the construction of a new secondary school aimed at expanding educational infrastructure. During the communications segment of the meeting, the Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry briefed the Council on Djibouti's participation in the 51st Annual Meetings of the Islamic Development Bank Group held in Baku, Azerbaijan, where discussions focused on global economic challenges, development financing, climate resilience, and regional cooperation. The minister highlighted the signing of a US$750 million financing framework covering the 2026-2029 period to support priority sectors including energy, food security, health, agriculture, and private sector development, while reinforcing Djibouti's position as a regional logistics and trade hub. He also reported on meetings held in Beijing with the Export-Import Bank of China aimed at deepening bilateral economic, industrial, and financial cooperation. Discussions included aligning Djibouti's National Development Plan with China's Fifteenth Five-Year Plan to support sustainable development, industrialization, infrastructure expansion, and economic transformation. In addition, officials reviewed progress on the proposed Djibouti Green Industrial Park following consultations with Chinese companies selected to form the implementation consortium for the strategic project. The Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development also presented a report on national activities marking World Environment Day 2026, emphasizing the urgency of collective climate action. He reaffirmed that ecological transition remains one of the central pillars of Djibouti's long-term development strategy, balancing economic growth with environmental protection and improved living standards.