View on Africa: Djibouti, playground of superpowers
Why are there so many foreign military bases in Djibouti, and what does it mean for Djiboutians?
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For a tiny country, there is an extraordinary display of military hardware on show in Djibouti. The East African nation hosts military bases from the United States, China, France, Italy and Japan, who all prize its strategic location and political stability. But while Djibouti’s position on the map won’t change anytime soon, it is less certain whether President Ismail Omar Guelleh – verging now on two decades in power – can keep internal tensions under control.
This View on Africa is presented by Simon Allison, Africa Editor for the Mail & Guardian and an ISS Consultant, who just returned from a reporting trip to Djibouti. He will share his impressions on how Djibouti’s front row seat to global geopolitics is affecting the country’s politics, and its people.
About View on Africa
Every Wednesday from 11h00 - 12h00 CAT (09h00 - 10h00 GMT), ISS researchers from Dakar, Nairobi, Addis Ababa and Pretoria provide expert analysis of major events and trends in Africa. Introductory remarks are followed by an online Q&A with participants.
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