Djibouti

Djibouti, officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Somalia to the south, Ethiopia to the southwest, Eritrea in the north, and the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to the east. The country covers an area of 23,200 km² (8,958 sq mi).

In the past, the area was part of the Land of Punt. Later, it became a French colony called French Somaliland. After gaining independence, it became the Republic of Djibouti, named after its capital city. In the early 1990s, there were some disagreements that led to discussions and agreements.

Djibouti has a small population and is made up of different groups of people. French and Arabic are the official languages, and most people follow Islam. The country is important because it is close to busy shipping routes and serves as a main port for trade with Ethiopia. It is also home to many important international offices and military bases.

Name and etymology

Djibouti is officially called the Republic of Djibouti. In local languages, it is known as Gabuuti in Afar and Jabuuti in Somali.

The country is named after its capital city, the City of Djibouti. The origin of the name is not fully known, with different stories depending on the local culture. One idea suggests it comes from the Afar word gabouti, meaning "plate", possibly describing the area's shape. Another theory links it to gabood, meaning "upland" or "plateau". Some believe it means "Land of Tehuti" or "Land of Thoth", named after an Egyptian moon god.

In the past, from 1862 to 1894, the northern area was called Obock. Later, from 1897 to 1967, it was known as French Somaliland, and from 1967 to 1977 as the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas.

History

Main article: History of Djibouti

Prehistory

The Djibouti area has been home to people since very early times. Cut stones from about 3 million years ago have been found there. Remnants of an extinct elephant and tools made from stone have also been uncovered, dating back to around 1.4 million years ago. Other discoveries include stone tools from 800,000 to 400,000 years ago and a jaw from a very old human, dated to about 100,000 years ago.

Antiquity

In very old times, Djibouti was known to ancient Egyptians as the Land of Punt. Egyptian records from around 2500 BC mention journeys to this land, seeking valuable goods like gold and incense. The area was an important trading place, with ships traveling from Egypt to bring goods for temples in exchange for items from Punt.

Introduction of Islam and the Middle Ages

During the early 9th century, the area around Zeila became part of a region called Adal. Zeila was an important city where people from many places traded goods. It was one of the first cities in the world to follow Islam, and an old mosque from the 7th century still stands there.

Early modern era

By the 1800s, the area was influenced by different powers, including the Ottomans and Egyptians. In 1862, the French signed a treaty with local leaders to set up a small base. This marked the beginning of French involvement in the region.

French colonization (1862–1977)

In 1883 and 1887, the French signed agreements with local leaders to establish control. By 1894, they set up a permanent administration in Djibouti City. The building of a railway from Djibouti to Ethiopia brought growth to the city. During World War II, the area was under Vichy French control but later liberated by British forces.

Djibouti Republic

In 1977, Djibouti held a vote to become independent from France, which was overwhelmingly supported. Hassan Gouled Aptidon became the first president. Djibouti joined international groups like the United Nations and focused on building its government and economy. In the 1990s, there were some disagreements about how the government should be run, but these were resolved with agreements to share power.

Politics

Further information: Politics of Djibouti

See also: Elections in Djibouti and List of Djiboutian politicians

Djibouti is a presidential republic where the president holds most of the power. The president leads the government and works with a prime minister and a group of ministers called the Council of Ministers. There is also a National Assembly that helps make laws.

The president of Djibouti is Ismaïl Omar Guelleh. He works with a prime minister, who is currently Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed. The country's laws mix French ideas with local customs. The National Assembly has 65 members who are chosen every five years. The main political group is the People's Rally for Progress, which has been in charge for many years.

Main article: Foreign relations of Djibouti

Djibouti works closely with its neighbors like Somalia and Ethiopia, as well as countries such as France and the United States. It also takes part in groups like the African Union and the United Nations.

Djibouti has its own army, navy, air force, and a special police force called the National Gendarmerie. The country has had to deal with conflicts in the past, but now focuses on training and working with other nations for peace.

See also: French forces in Djibouti

Because of its important location near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, Djibouti hosts military bases from several countries, including France, the United States, Japan, and China. These bases help protect the area and bring economic benefits to Djibouti.

Main article: Human rights in Djibouti

Djibouti faces challenges in protecting human rights. Reports have noted issues such as unfair detentions, difficult prison conditions, and restrictions on freedom of the press and assembly. There are also concerns about corruption and violence against women.

Main articles: Regions of Djibouti and Sub-prefectures of Djibouti

Djibouti is divided into six regions, including the capital city of Djibouti. Each region is further split into smaller areas called sub-prefectures.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Djibouti

Djibouti is located in the Horn of Africa, between the Gulf of Aden and the Bab-el-Mandeb, near the southern entrance of the Red Sea. It lies between latitudes 11° and 14°N and longitudes 41° and 44°E. The country has an area of 23,200 square kilometres (8,958 sq mi) and shares borders with Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somaliland. Djibouti is the southernmost country on the Arabian Plate.

Djibouti has many mountains, with the Mousa Ali range being the highest. The Grand Bara desert covers parts of southern Djibouti. The climate is very warm, with little change through the year. Coastal areas are dry, while some higher areas get more rain. The wildlife includes many bird species, mammals like gazelles and zebras, and sea animals such as turtles.

Location and habitat

Satellite images of Djibouti during the day (left) and night (right)

Wildlife

Main article: Wildlife of Djibouti

Economy

Main article: Economy of Djibouti

Djibouti's economy mainly focuses on services. Business activities center around the country's free trade rules and its important location as a place where ships pass by in the Red Sea. Because there is not much rain, the main crops are vegetables and fruits, and other foods must be brought in from other places. In 2013, the country's total wealth was about $2.5 billion, growing by 5% each year. Each person's share of this wealth was around $2,874. The services sector made up about 79.7% of the total wealth, with industry at 17.3% and farming at 3%.

As of 2013, the main trading place at the Port of Djibouti handles most of the country's trade. About 70% of the goods moved there are imports to and exports from nearby Ethiopia, which uses this port as its main connection to the sea. By 2018, 95% of Ethiopia's goods moving by sea went through this port. The port is also a place where ships stop to refuel and load and unload goods. In 2012, the government began building a new trading place called the Doraleh Container Terminal to help the country trade even more. This $396 million project can handle 1.5 million large containers each year.

Djibouti was considered the 177th safest place for investing money in the world in 2011. To make it easier for people to invest, the government has started several projects to show how much the country has to offer. They have also made new rules to help businesses, like lowering taxes and helping small businesses grow. Efforts are also being made to create more jobs by investing in different areas, especially communications and small businesses. The fishing and food processing industry, which makes up about 15% of the country's wealth, has also seen more investment since 2008.

To grow the country's industry, a large power plant using heat from the earth is being built with help from OPEC, the World Bank and the Global Environmental Facility. This plant should fix problems with electricity, reduce the need for energy from Ethiopia, and save money on fuel imports.

A company called Salt Investment (SIS) has started using the lots of salt found in Djibouti's Lake Assal region. This project makes and sells salt and creates jobs and fresh water for local people. In 2012, the government also began building a place to load salt onto ships with help from the China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd. This $64 million project lets Djibouti sell 5,000 tons more salt each year to places in Southeast Asia. Djibouti's total wealth grew by more than 6 percent each year, from $341 million in 1985 to $1.5 billion in 2015. The money used in Djibouti is called the Djiboutian franc, and it is controlled by the Central Bank of Djibouti. Because the Djiboutian franc is tied to the U.S. dollar, it stays steady and prices do not change much, which helps people want to invest in the country.

As of 2010, 10 banks operate in Djibouti, most arriving in recent years. The government requires banks to keep a share of their money in the bank and to have a certain amount of money ready before starting. Efforts have also been made to help banks lend money to small and medium-sized businesses without needing lots of money upfront.

Saudi investors are looking into building a big bridge connecting the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula through Djibouti, called the Bridge of the Horns. One of the investors is Tarek bin Laden. In June 2010, the first step of this project was delayed.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Djibouti

The Djibouti–Ambouli International Airport in Djibouti City is the country's main airport, with many flights going around the world. Air Djibouti is the country's biggest airline.

The new Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway started working in January 2018. It helps move goods between Ethiopia and the port in Djibouti.

Ferry boats travel across the Gulf of Tadjoura from Djibouti City to Tadjoura. The Port of Doraleh west of Djibouti City is the main port. Besides this port, Djibouti has three others for moving large amounts of goods and animals: the Port of Tadjourah (for potash), the Damerjog Port (for animals), and the Port of Goubet (for salt). Almost 95% of Ethiopia's imports and exports go through Djibouti's ports.

Djibouti's roads are named based on their type. Main roads are fully paved and connect all the big towns in the country.

Djibouti is part of a big trade route called the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which runs from China to Europe.

Media and telecommunications

Main articles: Telecommunications in Djibouti and Freedom of the press in Djibouti

Telecommunications in Djibouti are managed by the Ministry of Communication.

Djibouti Telecom is the only company that provides phone and internet services. It uses a network of microwave towers. A fiber-optic cable is in the capital city, while rural areas use wireless radio systems. Mobile phone service mainly covers Djibouti City. As of 2015, there were 23,000 landlines and 312,000 mobile phones in use. The SEA-ME-WE 3 submarine cable connects to Jeddah, Suez, Sicily, Marseille, Colombo, Singapore and other places. Djibouti has satellite connections through 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat. Medarabtel is the regional microwave network.

Radio Television of Djibouti is the government-owned TV and radio company. It runs the only TV station and two radio networks on AM 1, FM 2, and shortwave 0. The government controls licenses and operation of media. There is a movie theater called Odeon Cinema in the capital.

As of 2012, there were 215 local internet providers. About 99,000 people used the internet in 2015. The country's internet address ends in .dj.

The main newspapers are owned by the government: the French daily La Nation, the English weekly Djibouti Post, and the Arabic weekly Al-Qarn. There is also a government news agency, Agence Djiboutienne d'Information. Non-government news websites are based outside the country; for example, La Voix de Djibouti operates from Belgium.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Djibouti

Tourism in Djibouti is growing but still small, with fewer than 80,000 visitors each year, mostly friends and family of soldiers at the country's naval bases. There are discussions about stopping visa on arrival, which might limit tourism growth.

It is hard for tourists to travel on their own because of limited infrastructure, and private tours cost a lot. Since the train from Addis Ababa to Djibouti reopened in January 2018, people can travel by land again. Djibouti's top tourist spots are Lake Abbe and Lake Assal, which attract hundreds of visitors each year looking for remote and less-visited places.

Energy

Main article: Energy in Djibouti

Djibouti can produce about 126 MW of electricity from oil and diesel power plants. In 2002, the country made 232 GWh of electricity and used 216 GWh. By 2015, each person used about 330 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, but about 45% of people did not have electricity. Imports of power from Ethiopia will help increase renewable energy. Japan is interested in Djibouti's geothermal energy, with 13 possible sites, and has started building one near Lake Assal. A solar power plant in Grand Bara will produce 50 MW of electricity.

Demographics

Djibouti is home to about 1 million people. It is a country where many different groups live together. The two biggest groups are the Somalis, who make up about 60% of the people, and the Afar, who make up about 35%. There are also smaller groups, such as Yemeni Arabs, Ethiopians, and some Europeans. Most people live in cities, but some still live as nomads, moving with their animals.

The main languages spoken in Djibouti are Somali and Afar. The official languages are Arabic and French, which is used in schools and government work. Most people practice Islam, which is the official religion of the country. There is also a small Christian community.

Djibouti has been working to improve its schools and make education better for everyone. The government has built new classrooms and provided books. They have also made school free and required for children. Many more girls are now going to school than before. There is one main university in the country where young people can learn more after finishing their basic education.

Main article: Languages of Djibouti

Djibouti has many languages. Most people speak Somali or Afar at home. These languages are part of a big family called Afroasiatic. The two official languages are Arabic and French. Arabic is important for religion, and French is used in schools and government. Some people also speak other languages like Omani Arabic, Amharic, and Greek.

Main articles: Islam in Djibouti and Christianity in Djibouti

Most people in Djibouti practice Islam, which they have followed for a very long time. The Constitution allows people to practice any religion, but Islam is the official religion. There are also some Christians in the country.

Main article: Health in Djibouti

In Djibouti, doctors are not as common as in some other places. There are about 18 doctors for every 100,000 people. The government is working to improve health services and make sure everyone can get care when they need it.

Main article: Education in Djibouti

Education is very important to the government of Djibouti. They have been working to make sure all children can go to school. They have built new schools and provided books. They have also made school free and required for all children. Many more girls are now going to school than before. There is a university where young people can study after finishing their basic education.

The University of Djibouti is the main place for higher learning in the country.

Culture

Further information: Culture of Djibouti

People in Djibouti wear clothes that suit the hot, dry weather. Men often wear a traditional garment called a macawiis, which is like a sarong wrapped around the waist. Many also wear a loose white robe called a tobe.

Women usually wear a light, flowy dress called a dirac under other clothing. Married women often wear headscarves and shawls. On special occasions, women may wear beautiful jewelry and headpieces.

Djibouti’s music comes from its rich traditions. Somali music uses five notes instead of seven, creating unique sounds. Afar music shares similarities with other music from the Horn of Africa and includes songs for different occasions like weddings and celebrations.

Music

Main article: Music of Djibouti

Somali music has a long history and uses five notes instead of seven, which makes it sound different from other types of music. Afar music also has traditional songs and poems that tell stories about the past.

Literature

Main article: Literature of Djibouti

Djibouti has a strong tradition of poetry. Somali poets create long, complex poems, and Afar people have many folk stories and battle songs. There are also important historical books written about the country.

Sport

Football is very popular in Djibouti. The country joined FIFA in 1994 and had its first win in a World Cup qualifying match in 2007.

Recently, archery has begun to grow, with help from the World Archery Federation. A training center is being built in Arta to support archery in the area.

Cuisine

Djiboutian food mixes flavors from Somali, Afar, Yemeni, French, and Indian cuisines. Dishes often use spices like saffron and cinnamon. Popular foods include grilled fish, spicy soups, and a sweet treat called halwa made from sugar and spices. After meals, people sometimes use incense to scent their homes.