In January 2026, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) convened a consultative workshop with Djibouti’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Innovation (MDENI) to develop a national AI strategy. The workshop outlined implementation phases: Phase I (2025-2026) focuses on establishing governance frameworks and capacity building; later phases address infrastructure and scaling. Priority areas include strengthening local AI skills, expanding digital infrastructure, improving data governance, and fostering innovation. Djibouti is actively engaging with African Union AI governance efforts. A National AI Expert position is being recruited to lead the strategy development.
Who it affects: Government agencies and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Innovation are the primary actors in the strategy development process. The Phase I governance framework will affect all organisations operating AI systems in Djibouti once formalised. The capacity-building focus targets civil servants and technical staff.
What is notably missing: No national AI strategy has yet been formally adopted. The January 2026 workshop produced a consultative output, not binding policy. Djibouti has no dedicated national AI law and no regulatory body with enforcement powers over AI systems as of the date of filing. No AI literacy curriculum for schools, no mandatory workforce training requirement, and no public AI literacy programme have been identified.