The Government of Djibouti has officially assumed full management of a major Humanitarian Logistics Base previously operated by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
The formal handover ceremony marks a pivotal transition, converting a decade-long international humanitarian platform into a permanently nationally owned asset and reinforcing the country’s status as a premier logistics gateway for the Horn of Africa.
Overseen by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the facility is set to empower national authorities to streamline critical food stocks, enhance emergency response coordination, and establish the foundation for a robust national food reserve.
Highlighting the geopolitical and domestic significance of the milestone, Abdoulkader Houssein Omar, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, noted that the takeover directly supports long-term food sovereignty.
He emphasized that amid escalating climate vulnerabilities, El Niño extremes, chronic droughts, and regional population displacements, the platform will significantly bolster national capacities to anticipate crises and safeguard strategic supply chains.
Established in 2016, the logistics hub has served as an indispensable operational anchor for the region. During the severe 2022–2024 Horn of Africa drought and ongoing regional conflicts, the facility acted as a central lifeline, storing and dispatching critical commodities that reached millions of affected individuals.
Spanning a massive 65,000-metric-ton capacity, the site features specialized bulk-grain silos, general warehouses, secure container storage yards, and advanced cargo-handling infrastructure that has historically supported twelve distinct humanitarian organizations operating across Djibouti and Yemen.
To guarantee a seamless operational transition, the WFP will provide six months of intensive technical assistance and specialized training in humanitarian facility management.
The establishment and development of the base were made possible through backing from key international donors, including Canada, the United States, Norway, Finland, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, and the Government of Djibouti.