By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Djibouti, 8 January 2026 The President of Djibouti’s National Assembly, Dileita Mohamed Dileita, on Wednesday received a delegation from Japan’s House of Councillors at the parliament building in Djibouti, according to a government statement.
The Japanese delegation was led by Councillor Ikuina Akiko and included Councillors Aoshima Kenta and Otsu Tsutomu, accompanied by Japan’s ambassador to Djibouti, Okochi Akihiro.
The meeting was attended by members of Djibouti’s parliamentary bureau, the Djibouti–Japan parliamentary friendship group, several committee chairs and the Secretary General of the National Assembly, Ismael Goulal.
Dileita said the visit reflected ongoing institutional dialogue between the two countries and underscored the role of parliamentary cooperation in strengthening bilateral ties.
He described relations between Djibouti and Japan as long-standing and based on mutual respect, recalling his official visit to Japan in June 2025 as the head of a parliamentary delegation.
He also highlighted the strategic nature of bilateral cooperation, pointing to Japanese-backed development projects and Japan’s military base in Djibouti, one of the few such facilities Japan operates in Africa.
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Djibouti and Japan have maintained diplomatic relations since 1977, with cooperation spanning infrastructure development, education, health and maritime security. Japan established a military base in Djibouti in 2011 to support anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, reinforcing Djibouti’s role as a key security hub in the Horn of Africa.
Councillor Ikuina thanked Djiboutian authorities for the reception and stressed the importance of dialogue between lawmakers amid shifting global dynamics. She said exchanges of parliamentary experience could help reinforce both bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
According to the statement, discussions focused on legislative best practices, experience-sharing and expanding cooperation between the two parliaments, while respecting each country’s institutional frameworks.
Dileita said Djibouti’s National Assembly remained committed to close cooperation with the Japanese parliament and expressed hope that the visit would open new avenues for legislative collaboration aimed at peace, stability and development.
