Djibouti(Mogadishu24)-A high-level delegation led by French Minister of Defence Sébastien Lecornu and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Catherine Colonna, is in Djibouti to discuss blolstering military ties and cooperation with the Djiboutian government.

During their two-day visit, the delegation met Djibouti’s President, Ismail Omar Guelleh, and are currently engaged in ministerial discussions with their Djibouti counterparts on a potential treaty that would be signed between the two ministries.

“I am delighted to welcome Ministers Catherine Colonna and Sébastien Lecornu. We had a fruitful meeting reaffirming the friendship between our two countries and the desire to continue our strategic cooperation, particularly in the military realm with the renewal of the Djibouti-French defence treaty,” President Guelleh said.

Djibouti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation stated, “The defence ministers of the two countries are involved in these negotiations, which would lead to the signing of a new treaty in the next few months.”

Djibouti, a small developing country in the Horn of Africa with a population of 1.1 million people, was colonized by France until it gained independence in 1977.

Over the years, Djibouti has transformed its institutions, including health, water, housing, and security.

Its strategic location in Africa, along with unique natural resources, has positioned Djibouti as a key trade hub on the continent, attracting investments and strengthening bilateral relations with countries including France, the United States, Russia, Italy, China, and several Arab nations.