Ethiopia-Djibouti JMC mid-term review meeting concludes with multifaceted agreements

Addis Ababa, April 26, 2026 (FBC) – The 16th mid-term review meeting of the Ethiopia-Djibouti Joint Ministerial Commission concluded on Thursday, with both nations reaching agreements on various areas of mutual interest, as indicated by the Ethiopian Embassy in Djibouti.

The Ethiopian delegation, comprising the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Alemu Sime, the Minister of Revenues, Aynalem Nigusie, the Chief Commissioner of Customs Commission, Debele Kabeta, the Ethiopian Ambassador to Djibouti, Berhanu Tsegaye, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomats, and representatives from the Ethiopian Maritime Authority, participated in the two-day gathering.

The mid-term review meeting assessed the progress of implementing the agreements made during the 16th Ethiopia-Djibouti JMC meeting in October 2022.

The meeting aimed to address issues pertaining to the comprehensive cooperation frameworks of the two countries, including investment and illegal border trade, human trafficking, as well as the transport and logistics sectors, with particular emphasis on the construction of the Dikhil-Galafi road and the payment of the road fund, the port and transit between the two countries, and the provision of customs services.

The meeting concluded with agreements to establish technical committees aimed at enhancing port and transit services, customs protocol agreements, and multimodal agreements previously signed between the two countries. Additionally, the mid-term meeting identified key agendas for the 17th Ministerial Joint Commission meeting scheduled to take place in Djibouti in July 2024.

During the meeting’s conclusion, Minister of Transport & Logistics Alemu Sime emphasized the longstanding friendship between Ethiopia and Djibouti.

He expressed full confidence that the relevant government institutions from both countries will convene to discuss and act upon the agendas agreed upon by the JMC. The Minister emphasized the need for special attention to be given to port logistics and stressed the importance of concerted efforts in this regard.

Meanwhile, Hassan Houmed, Djibouti’s Minister of Infrastructure and Equipment, remarked that the two-day meeting was conducted in a positive atmosphere and highlighted the significant contribution of such meetings to strengthening the bilateral relations between Ethiopia and Djibouti.