This article covers India's development partnership with Djibouti and cooperation in training, health, agriculture and defence. It is based on the MEA brief of April 2026 and covers grants and lines of credit, ITEC training, humanitarian assistance, and naval and defence engagement.

Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Leadership and Entrepreneurship

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, the Government of India extended a grant of US$ 5 million in January 2017 to build the Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Leadership and Entrepreneurship (MGCLE). The project was completed and inaugurated on 22 November 2018 by the President of Djibouti.

The Centre is now run by the Government of Djibouti, and various training courses are conducted there. The brief states that it is being utilised by budding entrepreneurs. To mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, a bust of Mahatma Gandhi was installed at the Centre in January 2020. MOS (VM) Shri V. Muraleedharan visited the Centre during his visit in September 2022, and the brief states that the Djiboutian leadership is happy with the Centre and India's assistance in establishing it.

Lines of credit

EXIM Bank has extended four GOI supported LOCs aggregating US$ 46.67 million to the Government of Djibouti, in four tranches, for the construction of a Cement Plant in Ali Sabieh.

Training

Under the ITEC programme, India has been extending support to Djibouti for capacity building. Since 2007, 196 officials and professionals from Djibouti have benefitted from it.

Three doctors from Government hospitals of Djibouti underwent mid-career training in advanced fields of medical science at Fortis Hospital, New Delhi, from 5-24 August 2019, under IAFS-III.

Humanitarian assistance

  • Food aid: India provided 50 Metric Tons of food aid (sugar, rice and wheat flour) to Djibouti on 11 November 2020. The shipment was delivered by INS AIRAVAT.
  • Medicines: a consignment of 428 packets weighing 5954 kg was gifted to the Ministry of Health of the Government of Djibouti on 12th April 2021.
  • Dialysis equipment: India donated 20 units of Haemodialysis machine and one RO plant, along with consumables, as humanitarian assistance on 7 March 2025. The consignment arrived on board Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sachet on 6 March 2025.

Jaipur Foot camp and Quick Impact Project

In December 2021, the Embassy of India, in collaboration with the Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, Jaipur and ANPH, Djibouti, organised an Artificial Limbs Fitment Camp in Djibouti. 192 persons benefited from the camp, with 197 artificial limbs fitted by the BMVSS team.

The Embassy also implemented a Quick Impact Project (QIP) providing vocational training in cooking, sewing and tailoring, and hairdressing and facial makeup to underprivileged women at the Center for Social Action & Women's Empowerment (CASAF). It cost USD 50,826 and ran during the years 2021 and 2022.

Agriculture

Two Indian agriculture scientists visited Djibouti at the invitation of the Government of Djibouti to support the Green Djibouti Plantation drive, inaugurated by President Guelleh on 16 October 2019. They provided expert advice on the types of plants suitable to Djibouti's weather, soil and water conditions.

Maritime security and the Djibouti Code of Conduct

India joined the Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment (DCOC/JA) as an Observer on 26 August 2020. Established in January 2009, the DCOC is aimed at the repression of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the Western Indian Ocean Region, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

To combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, India has been regularly sending naval ships since November 2008 for Operation Turn Round (OTRs) during counter-piracy patrolling. Indian Naval Ships make regular calls at the Port of Djibouti on OTR. According to the brief, 12 INS visited the Port of Djibouti in the year 2023, 34 INS in 2024, 9 INS in 2025 and 7 INS so far in 2026, as of April 2026. The brief states that the Indian Mission rendered all assistance and facilitation, and that the Government of Djibouti accords prompt clearances.

Defence exchanges

  • A 3-member defence delegation led by Col. Moustapha Ali Handouleh, Defence Advisor to the President of Djibouti, visited Lucknow to attend DEFEXPO 2020, followed by a visit to Goa Shipyard Ltd. He also signed the Lucknow Declaration 2020.
  • Djibouti participated in Aero India 2021.
  • Col. Wais Omar Bogoreh, Commander-in-Chief of the Djibouti Coast Guard, visited India from 03-07 February 2021 to participate in the meeting of the Ministers of Defence of the IOR, representing Djibouti's Defence Minister. He also met the Chief of India's Naval Staff and the DG of Indian Coast Guard.
  • Djibouti's Ambassador in India represented his country in MILAN 2022.
  • Col. Ahmed Daher Djama, Commander of Djiboutian Navy, accompanied by Lt. Abdoulkader Mohamed Gaditto, visited Vishakapatnam from 19-25 February 2024 to participate in MILAN 2024, which Djibouti's Ambassador in India also attended.
  • The Chief of Djiboutian Navy participated in the 1st Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement, held in Tanzania in April 2025.
  • Colonel Madhi Daher Miguil, Deputy Commander of Djibouti Navy, attended the International Fleet Review-26 and MILAN-26 of the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam from 16-20 February 2026, and held talks with Vice Adm. Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy.

Defence training

Five Defence ITEC slots were sanctioned for Djibouti for the very first time in 2022-23, and two Djiboutian Naval Officers were trained in India in 2023. The Ministry of Defence of India has allotted course vacancies for the training of Djiboutian Defence Personnel at Indian Defence training establishments under ITEC for the year 2026-27.