Hit by a catastrophic economic crisis in the early 1990s, in the years following Djibouti experienced a booming growth in its port trade, which gradually improved the country’s economic situation. Although sidelined by the global economic crisis and formerly suffering from mismanagement, the Djibouti port sector today appears to be one of the most modern in East Africa. This paper examines the reasons behind its success; it identifies the determinants of the sector’s growth and analyzes the ways in which the various projects have been executed. Finally, it questions the sustainability of Djibouti’s success in a context of financial crisis and increased competition from the other regional ports.