Djibouti’s strategic location as China’s only African military base has turned it into the region’s digital hub. A World Bank report reveals that Djibouti surpassed Ethiopia and Kenya in internet connectivity, with 69% of its population online in 2023. This achievement can be attributed to China’s significant ICT investments in the country, with Djibouti hosting nine submarine cable landing points by 2023.
China’s involvement in building Djibouti’s ICT infrastructure is significant, with Chinese firms like Huawei partnering with Djibouti Telecom. Djibouti’s location makes it a hotspot for competition between China and the US, leading to advancements in digital communications infrastructure. While Djibouti aims to become a global digital hub, challenges like affordability and competition in the sector remain.