By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
Djibouti, 15 January 2026 — Djibouti and Somalia have launched a joint initiative to harmonize environmental data collection, aiming to bolster the protection of marine ecosystems in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, Djibouti News Agency (ADI) reported on Wednesday.
The subregional workshop, which opened in Djibouti, focuses on improving the management and sharing of environmental databases to address mounting climate pressures in the strategically vital maritime corridor.
The meeting was organized in collaboration with the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden (PERSGA), an intergovernmental body that includes both Djibouti and Somalia as member states.
More from Somalia
"Mastering and harmonizing environmental databases is essential to inform public decisions and improve the conservation of marine ecosystems," said Dini Abdallah Omar, Secretary General of Djibouti’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, during the opening session.
The initiative is also seen as a strategic move by Djibouti to support the institutional capacity of the Federal Republic of Somalia. According to Djiboutian authorities, the program reflects President Ismail Omar Guelleh’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation by developing the technical expertise of Somali environmental officials.
The workshop was attended by the Somali Ambassador to Djibouti, technical advisors from the Ministry, and experts from PERSGA.
