By Zakaria Hassan - Reporter
Djibouti, 21 January 2026 The University of Djibouti has inaugurated a new World Bank-funded research facility aimed at accelerating the nation’s transition toward renewable energy and modernizing its power infrastructure.
The Laboratory of Research in Energy and Energy Systems (LaRESE) was launched on Tuesday as part of the African Centres of Excellence (ACE-Impact) project, a regional initiative backed by the World Bank to bolster applied research and higher education across sub-Saharan Africa.
Equipped with high-tech scientific instruments, the laboratory will focus on renewable energy development, electricity grid optimization, and sustainable resource management.
"This infrastructure will enable our researchers and students to develop concrete and useful solutions for Djibouti and the region," said Souleiman Omar Hoch, coordinator of the ACE-Impact project.
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The Horn of Africa nation is currently working to diversify its energy mix to meet rising domestic demand. While Djibouti has historically relied on electricity imports from neighbouring Ethiopia, it is increasingly pivoting toward its own vast geothermal, wind, and solar potential.
The new center, led by Chaker Ibrahim Omar, is intended to serve as a regional hub for scientific cooperation, opening its doors to researchers and universities across East Africa.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior government officials, including Minister of Higher Education and Research Nabil Mohamed Ahmed and University President Djama Mohamed Hassan.
Officials emphasized that the facility is not only a win for domestic education but a critical step in making Djibouti a centre for technological innovation in the Horn of Africa.
The World Bank’s ACE-Impact project has been a cornerstone for similar research upgrades across the continent, aiming to reduce the brain drain of African scientists by providing world-class facilities locally.
