Ethiopia and Djibouti have historical, religious, ethnic and cultural attachments. Both Somali and Afar speaking population have their cousins here in Ethiopia and Somalia. Ethiopians community resided in Djibouti and the Djibouti community resided in Ethiopia.
As Djibouti is arid, the country basic agricultural commodities are imported from Ethiopia. The railway transport which connected Addis Ababa with Djibouti was constructed by French company in 1917.
The opening of the railway transport and development of port of Djibouti gave way for the establishment of towns and the flourishing of urbanization which are along the rail way such as Debrezeit, Modjo, Adama, Wolenchiti, Metehara, Awash, Yerer, Diredawa and Galafi. Side by side with these, the expansion of industries attracted foreign investment for boosting commercial farms, which supply their products to agro-industries of sugar factories located in the middle and upper Awash River. The industries still use the railway to export their products and import inputs.
The flourishing of urbanization also helped for the emerging of towns, which accommodate the heterogeneous communities. None farming sectors services such as hotels, garages, recreational places, educational institutions, health centers flourished. Rural urban migration is a common phenomenon in these towns.
Port of Djibouti also served as marine transport way out. The First Ethiopian delegation during Emperor Menelik, led by Ras Mekonen left Ethiopia to Europe through the port of Djibouti and returned in the same sea root.
When Emperor Hailesilasie I was visiting countries such as Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Belgium in1924 used the sea root from Djibouti to Europe via Suez Canal and Mediterranean Sea. Until the airline transport was introduced several Ethiopian delegates used to travel to Europe and Asia through port of Djibouti.
While Djibouti was under the colonial rule, Ethiopia had established good political, economic relation with France.
In 1920s while modern Education was expanding before the coming of Italian fascists, French language was thought in the Ethiopian schools as compulsory subject. The curriculum was also adopted the French curriculum. The French community resided here. Many buildings designed by French Architects were constructed. When the fascists occupied Ethiopia in 1936 Emperor Hailasilasie I went exile in Europe and traveled through the port of Djibouti. During the fascists invasion Ethiopia had been denied access to sea through Djibouti and this make the liberation struggle harder.
Italian Fascists during the occupation years used to the rail transport for importing ammunition and weapon and dispatching soldiers to the war front to crush the patriots. Since then Ethiopia drew lesson how land locked ness affects a sovereign country in terms of protecting its own security and maintaining trade relation with the outside world.
Currently, the rail and road transports stretched between the two countries serving in conducting import and export trade in an increasing pace. Recently, Ethiopian Ambassador to Djibouti Birhanu Tsagaye affirmed that the long-standing diplomatic relations between the two countries continue to strengthen in all spheres.
Ambassador Birhanu characterized the Ethio-Djibouti ties as an inseparable, mutual friendship that has endured through the ages. He told that the two countries have been working in partnership and based on mutual benefits in the areas of water, roads, railways, electric power, ports and other vital development sectors.
The countries are enjoying encouraging cooperation in the areas of political, economic, trade and infrastructure based on mutual trust, the ambassador indicated.
He said the people of Ethiopia and Djibouti are strongly interlinked with culture, language and other social bandages.
Regarding infrastructure, the Ambassador noted collaborative efforts are being underway to improve road conditions from Djibouti to Ethiopia. The countries are also working to address complaints about Djibouti’s customs services and expedite imports at Djibouti’s ports.
Currently the manufacturing and the service sector are flourishing in various parts of the country. They employ thousands of people, utilize local raw materials and enhance creativity. The construction sector is also booming and creates job opportunity to thousands.
It is also understood the manufacturing and the construction sectors utilize inputs from abroad and when they are expanded it is apparent that import and export volume is increased which intern necessitates the utilization of ports.
Economic growth induces boosting trade which needs the utilization of various ports elsewhere in the horn of Africa. Ethiopia in addition to using the port of Djibouti for its trade, it also supplies basic commodities such food and water to that country. It supplied electric power energy and these implies that how the two countries are intertwined.
Ambassador Birhanu highlighted that joint initiatives like transporting fertilizer at a rate of 100 tons per day. The two countries implemented Green Legacy Initiative by importing seedlings from Ethiopia. The ambassador reaffirmed the commitment of the countries to supporting each other and overcoming challenges together.
Editor’s Note: The views entertained in this article do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Ethiopian Herald
BY ABEBE WOLDEGIROGIS
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2025
