Due to its relative stability and strategic location in the Horn of Africa, which is marked by various crises and conflicts, Djibouti is a country of importance beyond the region. This was underscored when Germany opened an embassy there in 2010. Since the autumn of 2011, Djibouti has maintained an embassy in Berlin – one of its 23 embassies around the world. Diplomatic relations, which are amicable, were established after Djibouti gained independence in 1977.

The EU operations EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, which has focused on combating piracy in the Red Sea since 2008, and EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, which has helped safeguard the freedom of maritime routes since 2024, have liaison offices in Djibouti. Moreover, within the framework of ASPIDES, Djibouti has served as a supply port for EU member states since the end of February 2024. Following Germany’s military involvement in EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, the German Government resumed cooperation between the Bundeswehr and Djibouti’s national police force, and posted military attaché staff at the German Embassy in Djibouti at the end of 2025.

Although Djibouti is not one of Germany’s partner countries for development cooperation, it benefits from regional projects funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, via the IGAD regional organisation (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) and the African Union. Now that the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF) has ended, EU funding from the follow-up instrument, the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) will be deployed to support both refugees and the local population.

Djibouti offers investment potential for German companies, particularly in the spheres of transport, logistics (ports), renewable energies (photovoltaic, wind and geothermal energy) and digitalisation. There is no Chamber of Commerce Abroad responsible for Djibouti, nor do Germany and Djibouti have an investment promotion and protection agreement.