DP World says Djibouti has not offered to buy its Doraleh terminal stake

DP World has not received an offer from Djibouti to buy its 33 percent stake in the Doraleh Container Terminal, a spokesman for the port operator said on Wednesday after a Djiboutian official said the stake could be bought.

The DP World spokesman also said the Dubai-owned company would consider it illegal if any party entered into any agreement or arrangement with the Djiboutian government related to the terminal.

“We consider such action to be illegal, and will pursue our legal rights against any such third parties,” he told Reuters in a statement.

Djibouti Ports and Free Zone Authority Chairman Aboubakar Omar Hadi told Reuters on Tuesday that the port authority was prepared to buy the stake back and that Djibouti is in talks with French shipping company CMA CGM to develop a new container terminal.

Last month, Djibouti abruptly ended DP World’s contract to run the terminal. DP World has called the move illegal and started legal proceedings.