Djibouti is losing its sheen The Punch Published 14 July 2021 Djibouti is a unique country in Africa, characterised by barren lands, not much development and surprising stability in an extremely volatile region. It is strategically positioned next to the Bab-el-Mandeb, a critical maritime chokepoint. It is this significance of location that makes Djibouti a place of value for most East African nations, particularly those that are landlocked such as Ethiopia. Gaining from this position of advantage, Djibouti has the potential to grow into one of East Africa’s largest and fastest growing economies. Apart from its maritime activities, the country is also known to be generating revenue by leasing land to multiple foreign militaries.