Dubai’s DP World sues China over Djibouti trade zone

The row in the Horn of Africa between DP World and the government of Djibouti rumbles on, and now appears to be dragging the Chinese government to the courts. The Dubai operator is suing it for the investment of state-owned port operator China Merchants and its role in acquiring a 23.5% stake in Djibouti’s state-owned port authority [PDSA] and subsequent development of an adjacent free trade zone. PDSA has been trying to evict DP World from operating the Doraleh Container Terminal, and now DP World has lodged a case in a Hong Kong court accusing the Chinese government of “unlawfully procuring and inducing the republic of Djibouti to breach various agreements between the African country and DP World”, according to Middle East newswire Vanguard.