Djibouti: Imposing Fees on Bab al-Mandab Crossing Threatens Maritime Security and Global Trade
The Djiboutian presidency stated that any attempt to impose fees on ships crossing the Bab al-Mandab Strait violates international law.
The Djiboutian presidency indicated that imposing transit fees through the strait threatens maritime security and global trade, adding: We reserve the right to resort to all means to protect our sovereign rights and ensure maritime safety in the Red Sea.
Reuters reported on Wednesday that the Houthi group is considering imposing fees on commercial ships passing through the southern Red Sea, a week after announcing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia.
The agency cited informed regional sources as saying that the Houthis are studying imposing fees on most traffic through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which connects the southern Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, noting that a timeframe for implementing the move has not yet been set.
The Houthi media office has not issued any comment on the agency's report.
Source: Open sources
