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Djibouti; 3 November 2025 — Djibouti has announced that 22 women — the country’s first female marine officers — have officially begun their duties, marking a milestone in the nation’s efforts to build a skilled maritime workforce and expand women’s roles in strategic port operations.
The 22 officers will serve under the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA), where they will oversee vessel movements, enforce maritime regulations, and help ensure safe and efficient port operations along one of the world’s most important shipping corridors.
The group — consisting of 18 deck officers and four marine engineers — completed international-standard maritime training in late September at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in Alexandria, Egypt. They began the program in 2021 as part of a government initiative to strengthen national expertise in the maritime field.
“Their return marks a historic achievement for Djibouti, advancing women’s empowerment and expanding their role in the future of the country’s maritime and logistics sector,” the DPFZA said in a statement.
Djibouti is currently scaling up major logistics and industrial projects, including the Damerjog industrial hub and expansions across its free-trade zones, as it competes with global shipping and warehousing hubs.
DPFZA officials have also confirmed that a branch of the Arab Academy will be established in Djibouti, marking the academy’s first campus in the Horn of Africa and offering expanded maritime training opportunities to youth in the region.