By Asha Elmi - Reporter
DJIBOUTI, (Dawan Africa) July 30 2026 – Djibouti has warned against any unilateral attempt to impose tolls or taxes on ships transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, saying such a move would violate international law and threaten the security of a key global maritime route.
In a government statement published by the state-run Djiboutian News Agency (ADI) on Wednesday, Djibouti reaffirmed its commitment to freedom of navigation and the international legal framework governing straits used for international shipping.
The government said the Bab el-Mandeb, which separates the African and Asian coasts and connects the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea, is an internationally significant passage that should remain open to global shipping.
The waterway is also an important route for global energy supplies. An estimated 4.2 million barrels per day of crude oil and petroleum products passed through the Bab el-Mandeb during the first half of 2025, compared with 9.3 million barrels per day in 2023, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Liquefied natural gas traffic through the strait fell to almost zero in 2024 and the first half of 2025 as vessels avoided the route because of security threats and high insurance costs.
More from Somalia
Djibouti said any initiative by a single coastal state to impose transit charges on vessels using the strait would contravene international law, undermine the sovereignty of neighbouring countries and endanger maritime routes essential to global trade and energy supplies.
As a neighbouring country directly affected by developments in the strait, Djibouti said it would regard the implementation of such a measure as a unilateral challenge to the waterway’s international status and an unacceptable escalation in the region.
The government said it reserved the right to use diplomatic, legal and security channels, either independently or in coordination with regional and international partners, to protect its sovereign rights, maritime safety and stability in the Red Sea.
Djibouti also called on the international community, relevant organisations and users of the strait to ensure that the Bab el-Mandeb remains a safe and open passage governed by international law and is not used as a means of pressure to advance particular interests.