Abstract EN:

Since the creation of Djibouti at the end of nineteenth century until today, the requirements out of water for the city were always higher than the offer. In this context of structural shortage, during first half of twentieth century, the lack of water in the city was worsened by the mode of management of the service which privileged economic probability with the detriment of the general interest of the colony. Since 1950, the water service was nationalised by the local authorities which gave themselves the means of improving its quality in order to face the new economic and social situation of the colony. But since the independance, the lack of water in the city is accentuated by a high demographic growth which maintains the rising of the request. Today, in front of the persistence of the shortage, the National Office of Water of Djibouti set up a strategy of management based upon the unequal supply of the users, the limitation of the consumption and the recognition of the informal of water organization. This pragmatic policy contributes to the emergence of a social model of management of the shortage in which all the actors find their account, for the time being.