Bab-el-Mandeb facts for kids

"Gate of Grief" redirects here. For the album by White Ring, see Gate of Grief (album).

Quick facts for kids Bab-el-Mandeb
Sand storm blowing across the Red Sea and the Bab-el-Mandeb strait in the south
locator map of the strait
Location	Between Horn of Africa and South Arabia
Coordinates	12°35′N 43°20′E / 12.583°N 43.333°E / 12.583; 43.333
Basin countries	Djibouti, Eritrea and Yemen

Max. length	31 mi (50 km)
Min. width	16 mi (26 km)
Average depth	609 ft (186 m)

Islands	Seven Brothers, Doumeira, Perim

The Bab-el-Mandeb is a very important narrow waterway, also called a strait. It sits between Yemen in Asia and Djibouti and Eritrea in Africa. This strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the huge Indian Ocean. It's like a crucial doorway for ships traveling between these large bodies of water.

What Does Bab-el-Mandeb Mean?
A Look at the History of the Strait
Why the Strait is Important for Trade
The Strait's Role in Global Security
Geography of Bab-el-Mandeb
Towns and Cities Near the Strait
- Towns in Djibouti
- Towns in Yemen
See also

What Does Bab-el-Mandeb Mean?

The name Bab-el-Mandeb means "Gate of Lamentation" or "Gate of Grief." People say it got this name because sailing through it can be dangerous. Another story tells of many people who died when an earthquake split the land apart long ago. This event, according to legend, separated the Arabian Peninsula from the Horn of Africa.

A Look at the History of the Strait

Ancient Times and Early Humans

Long, long ago, the land where the strait is now was once a bridge. This bridge connected Yemen and Ethiopia. This land bridge appeared and disappeared over thousands of years as sea levels changed. Scientists believe that early humans might have used this land bridge. They could have traveled out of Africa and spread across the world.

Old Legends and Early Crossings

Arab stories say that Asia and Africa were once joined. They were split apart at the Bab-el-Mandeb. Some old writings link the name to a time when people from Aksum (an ancient kingdom) crossed the sea to Yemen in the 6th century.

British Control of Perim Island

In 1799, the British East India Company took control of Perim Island, which is in the strait. Later, in 1857, Britain officially claimed the island. They built a lighthouse there in 1861 to help guide ships. Perim Island was used as a place for steamships to refuel with coal. This continued until 1935, when ships started using less coal.

Perim Island's Independence

Britain stayed on Perim Island until 1967. Then, the island became part of the new People's Republic of South Yemen. Before leaving, Britain suggested that the island should be managed by many countries. This was to keep the strait safe for everyone. But this idea was not accepted.

Plans for a Bridge

In 2008, there were plans to build a huge bridge called the "Bridge of the Horns" across the strait. It would have connected Yemen and Djibouti. This project was planned to be the longest suspended bridge in the world. However, by 2010, the project was delayed, and it never moved forward.

Why the Strait is Important for Trade

A Key Waterway for Global Trade

The Bab-el-Mandeb is a vital link for ships carrying goods around the world. It connects the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.

Oil and Gas Shipments

Many ships carrying oil and natural gas from the Persian Gulf use this strait. They travel through it to reach the Suez Canal or a pipeline called SUMED.

What is a Chokepoint?

A "chokepoint" is a narrow waterway that is very important for global shipping. The Bab-el-Mandeb is one such chokepoint. It is about 26 kilometers (16 miles) wide at its narrowest point. This narrowness means ships must travel through two specific channels.

Impact if the Strait Closed

If the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait were ever closed, it would cause big problems. Oil tankers from the Persian Gulf would have to sail all the way around the southern tip of Africa. This would make their journeys much longer and more expensive.

How Much Oil Passes Through

In 2018, about 6.2 million barrels of oil passed through the strait every day. This oil was going to places like Europe, the United States, and Asia. In 2017, about 9% of all oil traded by sea went through the Bab-el-Mandeb.

The Strait's Role in Global Security

Important for Safety

The Bab-el-Mandeb is very important for the safety and security of the Middle East, East Africa, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.

Narrow and Strategic

The strait is only about 16.5 kilometers (9.25 miles) wide at its narrowest point. This is between Djibouti and Perim Island. This makes it a strategic "chokepoint."

Underwater Cables

Important power and internet cables run under this narrow strait. These cables are crucial for communication around the world.

An International Waterway

Legally, the Bab-el-Mandeb is an international strait. This means ships from all countries can pass through it freely. However, its strategic location has made it a place where different countries want to have influence.

After the Suez Canal Opened

When the Suez Canal opened in 1869, the Bab-el-Mandeb became even more important. Countries have tried to control the strait. They do this by having military bases on nearby land or by having naval ships in the area.

Past and Present Influences

On the Arabian side, the British Empire was present in Yemen and on Perim Island until 1967. After that, the Soviet Union had a strong presence there until the end of the Cold War.
Today, events in Yemen affect the security of the strait. Different groups in Yemen, along with other countries like Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, are involved in trying to influence the situation.
On the African side, France had a presence in Djibouti for many years. Since Djibouti became independent in 1977, it has become a location for military bases from many powerful countries. The United States, China, Japan, and Italy all have bases there. Saudi Arabia is also setting up a logistics hub. Russia has also built military ties with Eritrea.

Keeping the Seas Safe

Since the end of World War II, the United States has led naval operations to keep the Bab-el-Mandeb safe. In 2002, a group called the Combined Maritime Forces was formed. This group, with help from 46 countries, works to ensure ships can pass safely. In April 2022, a special task force, Combined Task Force 153, was created. Its goal is to focus on security in the Bab-el-Mandeb, Red Sea, and Gulf of Aden.

Recent Challenges to Shipping

Following events in October 2023, a group in Yemen attacked commercial ships in the Red Sea. These attacks used the narrowness of the Bab-el-Mandeb as a strategic advantage. In response, several new international operations were started. These include the EU-led Operation Aspides and Operation Prosperity Guardian. Their goal is to ensure ships can continue to pass safely through the strait.

Past Warnings and Actions

On March 11, 2025, Yemeni forces announced that the strait was closed to ships owned by or flying the flag of Israel. This was to last until humanitarian aid could freely enter the Gaza Strip.
In April 2026, a Houthi official warned that the Bab-el-Mandeb strait could be closed completely. He stated that no force would be able to reopen it if they made that decision.
On July 20, 2026, the Houthi group announced a blockade of Saudi Arabian ships trying to pass through the strait. They said this was in response to what they called a "continued Saudi siege" of Yemen. Saudi Arabia stated it would take all necessary steps to protect its ships.

Geography of Bab-el-Mandeb

The Strait's Shape

The Bab-el-Mandeb is about 26 kilometers (16 miles) wide from Ras Menheli in Yemen to Ras Siyyan in Djibouti.

Perim Island Divides It

The island of Perim splits the strait into two smaller channels.

The eastern channel, called the Bab Iskender (Alexander's Strait), is about 5.37 kilometers (3.3 miles) wide. It is about 29 meters (95 feet) deep.
The western channel, called Dact-el-Mayun, is wider, about 20.3 kilometers (12.6 miles) wide. It is much deeper, about 311 meters (1,020 feet) deep.

Currents and Nearby Islands

In the eastern channel, water flows inwards. But in the western channel, a strong current flows outwards, deeper below the surface. Close to Djibouti, there is a group of smaller islands known as the "Seven Brothers Islands".

Islands in the Bab-el-Mandeb Area

Islands and archipelagos in and near the Bab-el-Mandeb include:

Doumeira Islands — These islands are between Djibouti and Eritrea.
Hanish Islands — A group of islands belonging to Yemen in the southern Red Sea.
Perim — This Yemeni island divides the strait into two channels.
Rocher Siyyan — A small island near Djibouti.
Seven Brothers Islands — A group of islands belonging to Djibouti.
Siyyan Himar — Two small islands in Djibouti.