Djibouti–Somalia Peace Ties: Somalia’s Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi praised Djibouti’s role in peace efforts during the 49th independence anniversary celebrations in Beledweyne, highlighting shared religion, blood, and culture, and noting Djiboutian troops in AUSSOM supporting operations against Al-Shabaab. Film & Creative Grants: Qatar’s Doha Film Institute announced its 2026 Spring Grants, including projects from across the MENA region with Djibouti listed among participating countries—another boost for regional storytelling and emerging filmmakers. Energy Independence: Djibouti is partnering with Morocco on a solar power project with storage, aiming to cut reliance on imported electricity and strengthen domestic clean-energy capacity. Human Trafficking Crackdown: A Horn of Africa conference in Nairobi urged cross-border cooperation to fight migrant smuggling and trafficking networks, with Djibouti among the participating countries. Somali Culture Abroad: Birmingham’s Somalinimo 2026 festival plans a major celebration of Somali identity and creativity, bringing diaspora and locals together to “educate, inform and entertain.” Maritime Security Pressure: Commentary argues the Bab-el-Mandeb chokepoint—between Djibouti and Yemen—remains vital for global trade, amid wider Red Sea and Gulf of Aden tensions.