US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI960

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000960 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF AND AF/E 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ECON, ETRD, MARR, DJ, TC 
SUBJECT: CABINET DIRECTOR TANI SAYS DORALEH IS A DJIBOUTI 
-- NOT DUBAI -- PROJECT 
 
REF: DJIBOUTI 846 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MARGUERITA D. RAGSDALE. 
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
 1. (C) During Ambassador's call on Ismail Hussein Tani, 
President Guelleh's Cabinet Director, to discuss the Common 
Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) (see septel), 
Tani -- who describes his job as "translating and explaining 
the agenda and vision of President Guelleh to Djiboutians" -- 
commented on the huge Doraleh port project that is generating 
much debate in Djibouti.  The Government's critics call the 
project an example of Djibouti's subjugation to "Dubai, 
Incorporated." 
 
2. (C) Tani preferred to describe Djibouti's Doraleh port 
project as a "partnership" between Dubai and Djibouti.  "It 
is a win-win situation which we welcome because the 
relationship will boost Djibouti's economy," he told 
Ambassador.  It should be clear, though, he added, that the 
Doraleh port project belongs to Djibouti.  Emirates National 
Oil Company (ENOC) simply "owns" (his term) the oil terminal. 
 Dubai Ports International (DPI), (an ENOC affiliate) which 
manages the airport and existing seaport in Djibouti, has 
been authorized to manage Doraleh's construction and to 
search for sources of financing, Tani continued.  The 
authority of the Government of Djibouti, he remarked, is 
represented by Abdurahman Boreh (a prominent Djiboutian 
businessman and Doraleh port investor), and is very trusted 
by the Government.  Asked about Boreh's share in the project, 
Tani responded "of course, Boreh has his personal interest in 
the port and owns some shares."  Yet our biggest partner for 
use of Doraleh, he told Ambassador, will be Ethiopia.  He 
clarified that Ethiopia will not be given any decision-making 
authority over the port because the port is intended to 
benefit "all interested parties" and not solely Ethiopia. 
 
3. (C) Tani stated that the Government of Djibouti is 
grateful for the U.S. Navy's (NAVCENT's) contract (via DESC) 
for four fuel storage tanks at Doraleh "because the contract 
promotes the good reputation and viability of Doraleh port." 
RAGSDALE