On Wednesday morning, October 7, 2026, Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh met with Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF). The meeting took place at the Presidential Palace in Djibouti, where Mushikiwabo was in town to participate in the 7th edition of the Francophonie Economic Mission, also known as the Francophonie Economic Forum. The forum, which ran from October 6 to 8, 2026, brought together over a hundred companies from around the world to discuss economic opportunities and cooperation.
During the meeting, Mushikiwabo briefed President Guelleh on the progress of the Francophonie Economic Forum, which had just completed its second day of discussions. The forum had facilitated fruitful exchanges between Djibouti's economic operators and their counterparts from the Francophone world. According to Mushikiwabo, the forum had already yielded positive results, including the signing of around ten contracts and the launch of training programs for young Djiboutian graduates.
The discussions between President Guelleh and Mushikiwabo also focused on ways to strengthen Djibouti's collaboration with the OIF and enhance the country's role within the organization. As a strategic location at the crossroads of several continents and major shipping lanes, Djibouti is well-positioned to serve as a hub for economic and commercial exchanges between OIF member states.
Djibouti's expertise in promoting stability and security also makes it an attractive partner for the OIF. The country's stable policies and favorable business environment have earned it a reputation as a reliable and secure destination for investors. As such, Djibouti is well-suited to play a leading role in promoting peace and prosperity among OIF member states.
The meeting between President Guelleh and Mushikiwabo was attended by a high-level delegation, including Nefertiti Tshibanda, the OIF's representative in Djibouti. On the Djiboutian side, several senior officials were present, including Foreign Minister Abdoulkader Houssein Omar, Investment Minister Mariam Hamadou Ali, and several other high-ranking diplomats.
The Francophonie Economic Forum, which concluded on October 8, 2026, provided a platform for economic operators from Djibouti and other Francophone countries to explore new opportunities for cooperation and investment. The forum's success was hailed as a positive step towards strengthening economic ties between Djibouti and the Francophone world.
Djibouti is set to play a more prominent role in the OIF, particularly during the organization's upcoming summit, scheduled to take place in Cambodia from November 14 to 16, 2026. The summit will focus on promoting peace and prosperity among OIF member states, and Djibouti's President Guelleh is expected to play a key role in the discussions.
Key points
- Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh meets with Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF)
- The Francophonie Economic Forum yields positive results, including contract signings and training programs for young Djiboutian graduates
- Djibouti poised to play a leading role in promoting peace and prosperity among OIF member states
