Djibouti
Djibouti, 1977 to today. Draft, not yet reviewed
Djibouti, officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa, 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 new state joined the United Nations in its first year. In the early 1990s, tensions over government representation led to armed conflict between Djibouti's ruling People's Rally for Progress (PRP) party and the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD) opposition group. The impasse ended in a power-sharing agreement in 2000.
Seat of power: Djibouti
Rulers
Hassan Gouled Aptidon
President of Djibouti, 1977–1999
Hassan Gouled Aptidon served as the first President of Djibouti from 1977 to 1999. He played an important role in Djibouti's struggle for independence from France. Later he served as the first Prime Minister of Djibouti between May 1977 and July 1977.
Portrait of Hassan Gouled Aptidon: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Ismail Omar Guelleh
President of Djibouti, 1999 to today
Guelleh was re-elected in 2005, 2011, 2016, 2021, and 2026. The elections were largely boycotted by the opposition amid complaints over widespread irregularities. Guelleh has been characterized as a dictator, and his rule has been criticized by human rights groups and foreign governments.
Portrait of Ismail Omar Guelleh: Prime Minister's Office, GODL-India, file
Culture
- Djibouti is near some of the world's busiest shipping lanes, controlling access to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.
- The nation is the site of various foreign military bases. The hosting of foreign military bases is an important part of Djibouti's economy.
- About 94% of Djiboutians adhere to Islam, which is the official religion and has been predominant in the region for more than 1,000 years.
- French and Arabic are its two official languages; Afar and Somali are national languages.
Picture
Lake Assal is a saline lake that lies 155 m below sea level in the Afar Triangle, making it the lowest point on land in Africa.
Image: NASA, Public domain, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.