Djibouti City (Horn post) Ismail Omar Guelleh has inaugurated a new social housing complex and launched additional large-scale residential projects as part of a nationwide push to expand affordable housing.
During a day of high-level engagements, the president officially opened a new housing development in the PK13 area of the Balbala district, comprising 520 three-bedroom apartments. The state-owned project, built with support from Saudi Arabia, is reserved for citizens who do not own property or land.
The newly inaugurated units are distributed across 26 buildings constructed on a large site that includes open communal spaces designed for recreation and family use. Officials say the development is part of Djibouti’s broader Social Housing Program aimed at improving living standards and promoting social inclusion.
In his address, President Guelleh described the project as a significant step in making housing a national priority, emphasizing its role in strengthening social cohesion and community integration.
Senior government officials, including Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, National Assembly Speaker Dileita Mohamed Dileita, and Urban Planning Minister Amina Abdi Aden, attended the ceremony, alongside First Lady Kadra Mahamoud Haid.
The president also announced a second housing phase involving 500 two-room units developed in partnership with China.
Later in the day, Guelleh laid the foundation stone for a new urban development, “Salam City,” to be built in Nagad by Salam African Bank. The project is expected to include more than 7,000 housing units—ranging from apartments to luxury residences—with the first 1,300 units scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.
The initiatives underscore Djibouti’s efforts to address housing demand, enhance urban infrastructure, and support long-term economic and social development.
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Horn post staff
