Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
An escalation by Yemen’s Houthi group and its seizure of strategic positions near the Bab al-Mandab Strait are placing growing security, economic and humanitarian pressure on Djibouti, with potential repercussions for neighboring Ethiopia, Italy’s Il Sole 24 Ore reported Wednesday.
In a report by journalist Alberto Magnani, the newspaper said Djibouti, whose economy depends heavily on its strategic location and ports overlooking the Bab al-Mandab, is facing mounting challenges from the intensifying military situation in Yemen and the arrival by sea of thousands of Yemenis fleeing the fighting.
Djibouti’s main port is a cornerstone of the country’s economy and serves as the primary trade gateway for landlocked Ethiopia. The country also hosts military bases operated by several foreign powers, making any deterioration in Red Sea security a direct concern for its economic and strategic interests.
The report said the Houthis’ control of Mayyun, also known as Perim Island, in the Bab al-Mandab Strait has strengthened their ability to influence shipping through one of the world’s key maritime corridors linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
The developments have coincided with a surge in displacement from Yemen’s western coast toward Djibouti. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported that thousands of Yemenis have crossed the sea to Djibouti to escape the fighting, while UN estimates earlier this month put the number of people displaced within Yemen at more than 100,000.
Analysts cited by Il Sole 24 Ore warned that a prolonged escalation could have significant security and economic consequences for Djibouti. A decline in shipping activity or an increase in maritime risks could reduce port traffic and cut revenues linked to the country’s position as a major regional trade hub.
The report also warned that disruptions to trade through Djibouti could encourage Ethiopia to accelerate efforts to diversify its access to the sea, including by making greater use of other regional ports such as Berbera in Somaliland.
Ethiopia has sought for years to expand its maritime access as it remains heavily dependent on the trade corridor through Djibouti. A prolonged disruption along that route could add pressure for Ethiopia to reassess its economic and strategic options across the Horn of Africa.
The concerns come amid growing warnings over the regional impact of the Houthis’ expansion along Yemen’s western coast. The group seized Mokha, other areas and Mayyun Island during September, strengthening its position near one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoint
