Dubai’s DP World dismisses Djibouti President’s remarks about disputed port as “false“

Dubai’s DP World dismisses Djibouti President’s remarks about disputed port as “false“

Dubai-based port operator DP World has dismissed remarks made by Djibouti President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh regarding the "seizure of Djibouti Port“ and "developments of the Port of Berbera“ as being "false“.

The comments, made in an interview published in Jeune Afrique and the Africa Report "cannot be left unchallenged“, the operator said.

The dispute relates to the Doraleh Container Terminal SA (DCT), a Djibouti port operator owned 33.34 per cent by DP World Group and 66.66 per cent by state-owned Port de Djibouti.

The concession was awarded by the Djibouti government in 2006 and in February 2018, the African nation ended its contract with DP World to run the Doraleh Container Terminal, citing failure to resolve a dispute that began in 2012.

But DP World called the move an illegal seizure of the terminal and began arbitration proceedings in London.

Six substantive rulings have been made in DP World's favour by tribunals at the London Court of International Arbitration and the High Court of England and Wales. The rulings ordered Djibouti to restore the rights and benefits under the 2006 concession agreement to DP World and Doraleh Container Terminal within two months, or pay damages.

"The claim made by the President that there