Djibouti's President Leads 14th Council of Ministers Meeting

Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh chaired the 14th Council of Ministers meeting on November 10, 2026. The meeting began with the President congratulating the newly appointed Minister of Defense and expressing his encouragement for the minister's new role. The Minister of Defense thanked the President for the confidence placed in him and reaffirmed his commitment to serving the nation with dedication and rigor.

The Council of Ministers paid tribute to the late Omar Bourhan, former Minister of Defense, acknowledging his contributions to the nation. The Council offered condolences to Bourhan's family and close relatives after reciting the "Fatiha". The meeting then proceeded to discuss several key projects, including the approval of financial accounts for the Djibouti Guarantee Fund (FOGAD) for the 2025 financial year.

The FOGAD financial accounts for 2025 show a total income of 74,213,831 FDJ and expenses of 58,185,552 FDJ, resulting in a profit of 16,028,279 FDJ. This represents a 12% increase from the previous year's net result of 14.3 million FDJ. The fund's income increased by 2.8% due to a rise in state subsidies, despite a slight decline in guarantee commissions.

The Council also discussed the financial accounts of the National Education Research and Production Center (CRIPEN) for 2025. CRIPEN's financial accounts show a total income of 730,705,613 FDJ and expenses of 673,844,068 FDJ, resulting in a surplus of 56,861,545 FDJ. However, the net result decreased by 70.7 million FDJ compared to the previous year due to a decline in income.

The decrease in CRIPEN's income was primarily due to a reduction in supplementary subsidies for producing school textbooks. The center's expenses decreased slightly, driven by lower personnel costs. CRIPEN invested 79.6 million FDJ in various projects, including construction work, acquiring licenses and patents, and purchasing equipment.

The Council of Ministers also reviewed the financial accounts of the Higher Institute of Health Sciences (ISSS) for 2025. ISSS recorded a total income of 351,031,032 FDJ and expenses of 342,107,490 FDJ, resulting in a surplus of 8,923,542 FDJ. The institute's financial performance improved significantly, with a 7.1 million FDJ increase in net result compared to the previous year.

The ISSS's improved financial performance was driven by increased state subsidies and higher revenue from training courses. The institute invested 26.1 million FDJ in software, equipment, and infrastructure development. Academically, ISSS enrolled 566 students in 11 different programs and completed two training cycles.

Key points

• The Council of Ministers approved several key projects, including the financial accounts of FOGAD, CRIPEN, and ISSS.
• The meetings discussed various economic and educational initiatives aimed at driving growth and development in Djibouti.
• President Ismail Omar Guelleh congratulated the newly appointed Minister of Defense and emphasized the importance of serving the nation.