Over 4,500 Vehicles Stuck at Djibouti Port for 8 Months

More than 4,500 heavy cargo and public transport vehicles have been stranded at the Djibouti port for over eight months due to a Ministry of Finance directive banning the import of fuel-powered vehicles. These vehicles, valued at over $300 million, are incurring $90,000 in daily demurrage charges and suffering physical damage from exposure to extreme heat and salty air.

Importers have appealed to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for intervention, citing bureaucratic delays and conflicting instructions between ministries. The Customs Commission previously wrote to the Ministry of Finance requesting that the vehicles be allowed to enter under customs control, but the request has gone unanswered. Importers warn of potential risks, including the auctioning of their vehicles by the Djibouti government, the loss of collateral assets, and blacklisting by the National Bank.