Djibouti
2.3 Djibouti Road Network

Djibouti Road Network

Djibouti Roads

Road network in Djibouti comprises of roads classified as urban roads, national roads stretching to a total of 1,193 Km and districts roads totalling to1, 700 Km. 430 km are reported by MTE as paved road and 763 Km are non-paved. In addition from the non-paved roads, among these 763 Km, 311 Km are considered by the ministry as priority roads whereas the rest (452 Km) are non-priority roads.
While some main roads in Djibouti are well maintained, roads are often narrow, poorly lit, or washed-out. Many secondary roads are in poor condition or completely washed-out.

For information on Djibouti Road Network contact details, please see the following link:

4.1 Djibouti Government Contact List

Distance Matrix

 

Djibouti

Ali Sabieh

Arta

Dikhil

Obock

Tadjourah

Alaïli Dadda

307

300

323

78

134

Ali Addé

119

24

73

252

190

Ali Sabieh

95

 -

70

49

228

166

Arta

41

70

93

210

148

Assa Hougoub

164

157

180

71

9

As Dora

205

198

221

112

50

As Ela

160

91

42

293

231

Assa Gaïla

238

231

254

145

83

Assamo

122

27

76

255

193

Bondara

132

63

14

265

203

Dadda’to

264

257

280

108

109

Day

204

197

220

111

49

Dikhil

118

49

93

251

189

Djibouti

 -

95

41

118

235

173

Dorra

240

233

256

147

85

Doumera

337

330

353

102

164

Galafi

215

146

97

348

286

Guelilé

104

9

58

237

175

Hol hol

50

40

89

268

206

Khor’Angar

294

287

310

59

121

Lac Abhé

195

126

77

328

266

Lac’Assal

107

100

123

160

98

Loyada

26

121

144

261

199

Malaho

275

268

291

182

120

Moulhoulé

321

314

337

86

148

Obock

235

228

210

251

-

62

Randa

189

182

205

96

34

Tadjourah

173

166

148

189

62

-

Yoboki

177

108

 -

59

310

248

Time Travel from Capital City to Major Towns (km) 

 

Djibouti

Ali Sabieh

Arta

Dikhil

Obock

Tadjoura 

Djibouti

-

60

30

80

180

120

Ali Sabieh

60

-

45

35

210

150

Arta

30

45

-

60

150

90

Dikhil

80

35

60

-

225

165

Obock

180

210

150

225

-

60

Tadjoura 

120

150

90

165

60

 -

Road Security

The Djiboutian Gendarmerie and the national police force share responsibility for road safety in Djibouti. While Djibouti has been declared a “mine-safe” country, this indicates landmines have been identified and marked, not that they have been removed. Landmines are known to be present in northern Tadjourah and Obock districts. In addition, there may be mines in the Ali Sabieh area of the south. Travelers should stay on paved roads and should check with local authorities before using unpaved roads. Driving on Djibouti roads can be hazardous. Since most roads do not have shoulders or sidewalks, pedestrians and livestock use the roadways both day and night. Driving at night is extremely dangerous and strongly discouraged on all roads outside Djibouti City.

Drivers and pedestrians should exercise extreme caution. Minibuses and cars often break down; when breakdowns occur, local drivers usually place branches or rocks behind the vehicle to indicate trouble, but these warning signals are barely visible. Excessive speed, unpredictable local driving habits, pedestrians and livestock in the roadway, and the lack of basic safety equipment on many vehicles are daily hazards.


Speed limits are posted occasionally but are not enforced. The leafy narcotic khat is widely used, particularly in the afternoons, creating other traffic hazards. Travelers should be aware that police set up wire coils as roadblocks on some of the major roads, and these may be difficult to see at night. The two main international routes to the capital city, via Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, and Yoboki, Djibouti, both demand that drivers remain vigilant.
The route towards Dire Dawa is in very poor condition. Both have a high volume of Ethiopian trucks transporting large cargo. Railroad crossings are not clearly marked. However, the overall security issue is considered as GOOD

Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits

Djiboutian road authorities has built / implemented a weighbridge at PK 20, that’s about 20 Km from Djibouti downtown on the main road (RN 1) to Ethiopia. At the moment, the mentioned weighbridge is not used as result of lack of relevant law. The director of Direction of Equipment (Djiboutian Road Agency: DRA) reported that relevant law is under discussion as it has to be decided either, Djibouti law should be 13 MT per axles or should align to the regional one which states that the maximum of load per axle should be less or equal to 11 MT.
The location of the weighbridge was well chosen. Indeed, it’s located along the RN1 which is the only one road used by heavy truck to depart from Djibouti Port on their way to Addis or any other location within the country.

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