By HAN News Desk
DJIBOUTI — Djibouti has tightened security along its border with Somaliland, barring entry to individuals traveling with Somaliland-issued documents, in a move widely seen as political pressure on the region’s leadership amid rising regional tensions.
According to officials and regional sources, Djibouti has stopped allowing holders of Somaliland passports and travel documents to enter the country, reversing a long-standing practice under which such documents were previously accepted for cross-border movement.
The decision comes as diplomatic friction grows between Djibouti and the self-declared Somaliland administration, particularly over allegations of security and geopolitical cooperation involving Israel.
Somaliland officials and senior government figures frequently travel using Somaliland-issued passports, and the new restrictions are expected to affect both official travel and cross-border trade. Djiboutian authorities have not publicly issued a formal statement explaining the policy shift.
Analysts say the move appears to be part of broader diplomatic pressure aimed at Somaliland’s leadership, led by President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as “Cirro.”
Djibouti has strongly opposed reported plans by the Somaliland administration to allow Israeli military or strategic presence along the Red Sea and near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world’s most vital maritime chokepoints. Djiboutian officials have also rejected allegations that Somaliland could be used as a destination for relocating Palestinians displaced from Gaza, warning that such actions would destabilize the Horn of Africa.
Djibouti, which hosts multiple foreign military bases and plays a central role in Red Sea security, has consistently emphasized the need to preserve regional stability and respect Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following the collapse of the central government but has not been recognized by the international community. The Federal Government of Somalia continues to regard Somaliland as an integral part of the country, a position supported by the African Union, the United Nations, and most international partners.
The border measures underscore growing diplomatic strains in the Horn of Africa, where Red Sea security, Middle East conflicts, and great-power competition are increasingly intersecting.
