Djibouti: Little Revenge Against Colonialism?

[Abu-Salman]

One of the fading former imperial powers with a decadent secular culture, France has always been characterized by Arrogance an Racism (as confirmed by the latest outrage caused by Sarkozy Speech in Dakar), investing very little in its former African territories, despite its direct influence and military interventions in favor of genocidal regimes that squandered their vast resources, while financing French Politicians as well as Parties when not invested in somptuous French estates(Rwanda, Congo etc).

 

French worries against a "Supranational Arab Superpower" through Close Economic Integration may seems a bit premature; yet, there is a growing awareness of the much more real intercompatibility between Muslim nations, thus explaining why Arab Capital is Welcome as Underscored by the Djiboutian President ("They are the closest to us; we belong to the Same Family").

 

Is it not ironical therefore that France shrinking economy continue to be burdened through Anachronistic Megalomania as more and more Frenchs are noticing?

 

 

.......................................................................Does military support benefit business?, France 24

 

A sixth of England is the size of Djibouti, one of the smallest countries in Africa. The strength of Djibouti? Its strategic position. Located at the crossroads between East and West, positioned on the maritime routes in Europe, the Far East, the Arabo-Persian Gulf and of course in Africa. This country is in itself a hub. With such advantages, Djibouti is coveted by Americans, Frenchs and Arabs.

 

Take the USA. For them, Djibouti is a major point of support. As a result, the Americans have established a military base in 2002 to control terrorist activities in the Gulf. For other countries, the opportunities are primarily economic.

 

The partners of Djibouti are the Arab countries. Member of the League of Arab States and the African Union, Djibouti is now worth double its membership. "We must not forget that the Arab nation, we are members of one family," said the President of the Republic of Djibouti, Ismael Omar Guelleh.

 

Strengthening economic cooperation with the Arab world. This is the new strategy of this small African enclave. Thus the multinational Dubai, DPW, won the concession and construction of the new port. Equipped with the latest infrastructure, a deep-water port will be able to accommodate at the end of the year the sixth generation vessels capable of shipping 14 000 containers! And that's not all, this multinational generates various projects that benefit many Arab entrepreneurs, bankers for example. "It is true that Arab banks have invested heavily in Djibouti and it seems obvious that many other financial institutions should, in the future, penetrate," admits Steve Gentilli, guest of our report and president of the bank BRED Banque Populaire.

 

Fine sand beaches, turquoise water… The wealth of Djibouti resides also in tourism. The sector is also expanding. Many facilities are built, as this 7 stars palace, unique in Africa, that we visited…. And, again, it is the Arab investors who have managed to capture the market!

 

And France in all this? "It looks like we are waiting for them" has hinted at us, with irony, the President. However, the French State is there. With a workforce of nearly 3 000 men, the French Forces Stationed in Djibouti Force (FFDJ) is the most important of French military bases. This is expensive: more than 150 million euros per year to the state budget french. But without the military support, there would be no political stability and consequently no economic growth. But today France is not taking advantage of the economic development of this country. Priority to Arab partners! For Steve Gentilli, "there is a significant business community in Djibouti." But in Djibouti, the reality seems quite different. In the free zone of Djibouti, where we went, its 40 hectares are hosting a hundred companies, none of which is French!

 

An annual growth exceeding 5%, a GDP close to 470 million euros, Djibouti is in full boom and offers many perspectives. An Historical partner of this country, France is not taking advantage of economic development. In other words, in the economic war, the army does not much, at least not for the French.