INTERVIEW-Djibouti: Western bases pose manageable risk
Jul 12, 2012 9:18pm GMT
* Djibouti can manage any militant risk stirred by U.S., French bases
* Poverty, joblessness are longer-term threats
* The fact that "everyone knows everyone" helps spot threats
By William Maclean
LONDON, July 12 (Reuters) - Host to the most important U.S. and French
military bases in Africa, the tiny Red Sea state of Djibouti agrees it faces
a risk of retaliation from the Islamist militants its Western guests hunt on
forays into nearby countries.
But it argues the menace is limited.
Instead, the strategically placed country points to what it suggests is a
more significant, long-term security consideration: the poverty,
unemployment and regional political instability it sees as potential
pathways to extremist thinking.
"Of course we worry about the risks that could be represented by the
international military and security presence," Djibouti Economy and Finance
Minister Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh told Reuters on a visit to London.
"We accept that it represents a threat for us in terms of security," he
said, before adding that security officials were capable of minimising the
risks.
"But the area where maybe we have to take care of, is properly fighting
poverty and unemployment of our youth. Terrorists will be using that to
manipulate those in need."
Djibouti, located on one of the world's busiest maritime sea routes and
facing turbulent Yemen across the Gulf of Aden, hosts France's largest
military base in Africa plus a major U.S. base, and the port is used by
foreign navies patrolling busy shipping lanes off the coast of Somalia to
fight piracy.
In December, Djibouti started contributing soldiers to an African Union
force in Somalia fighting against al Shabaab militants trying to overthrow a
fragile interim government.
Al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab has vowed to launch revenge attacks against
African nations participating in the force.
But Dawaleh, in London for talks with British officials, suggested any
security risks from militancy were under control.
"I don't think terrorists will directly attack the American camp or the
French base," he said. "They will rather attack vulnerable Djiboutians and
Djibouti interests, but people who are in charge of that subject are
coordinating their efforts well to minimise (risk)."
JOBS ARE INSURANCE
Dawaleh said lack of regional economic integration was a more significant
long-term stumbling block to economic growth and the regional stability that
would provide.
With few natural resources and little industry, Djibouti has an unemployment
rate of almost 60 percent. The nation depends heavily on foreign assistance
for its balance of payments and to finance development projects.
Western media reports said Djibouti had received 30 million euros ($36.75
million) a year from the French in rent and $30 million dollars from the
United States for the bases.
"Djiboutians are ... peaceful, not much oriented to this bad practice
(militant Islamism). Djibouti has the particularity of a small city, a small
country - everyone knows everyone. It is much easier to identify any kind of
(threat)," Dawaleh said.
"But we have to address youth unemployment and poverty. This is the only
insurance to avoid such a shifting towards that kind of practice."
Djibouti serves as a port for its landlocked neighbour Ethiopia, which
accounts for about 70 percent of traffic, and is also bordered by Eritrea
and Somalia.
Dawaleh said Djibouti, Ethiopia and South Sudan were making rapid progress
in implementing projects to knit their economies closer together, including
an oil pipeline, a fibre-optic cable and road and rail links.
South Sudan signed a memorandum of understanding with Ethiopia and Djibouti
around trade in February which included the possibility of building an oil
pipeline, a South Sudan official said in February.
Dawaleh said he wanted such ventures to serve as a model for regional
integration. He added: "We need more economic and social integration rather
than having wars and poverty." ($1 = 0.8164 euros) (Editing by Alison
Williams)
