Saudi Arabia: Djibouti foothold

President Ismail Omar Guelleh’s 18-19 October visit to Riyadh, where he was received by King Salman Bin Abdelaziz, highlighted not only the former French colony’s rising status as a key entrepôt in the Horn of Africa, but especially Saudi Arabia’s wish to use Djibouti as a base from which to project hard power in the Red Sea region. It is now expected to use facilities in the Gulf of Tadjoura in the conflict with the Houthis and their allies. Djibouti on 2 October approved Saudi use of its territory for operations in Yemen.