Djibouti

Djibouti is a country located on the corner of Africa. It is adjacent to Somaliland to the south, Ethiopia to the southwest, Eritrea to the north, and the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to the east. Yemen is across the Gulf of Aden. The total area of ​​the country is 23,200 km2 (8,958 square miles).

In ancient times, this territory was part of the Land of Punt along with Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somaliland. The nearby Zeira, now in Somaliland, was the home of the medieval Adal and Ifato Sultanate dynasties. In the late 19th century, the French Somaliland colony was established in accordance with a treaty signed by the French Somaliland and the French Somaliland Sultan, and by rail to Dire Dawa (and later Addis Ababa), Saylac as a port in southern Ethiopia. Was quickly replaced by. Ogaden. Then, in 1967, it was renamed French Afar Isas. Ten years later, the people of Djibouti voted independently. This officially marked the establishment of the Republic of Djibouti, named after the capital. The new nation joined the United Nations on September 20, 1977, the same year. In the early 1990s, tensions over government representatives caused armed conflict, and in 2000 a power sharing agreement was signed between the ruling and opposition parties.

Djibouti is a multi-ethnic country with a population of over 921,804 (the smallest in mainland Africa). French and Arabic are the two official languages ​​of the country, and Afar and Somali are the national languages. Approximately 94% of residents are state religions and adhere to Islam, which has been dominated in the region for over 1000 years. Somalia and Afar make up the two largest ethnic groups, the former occupying the majority of the population. Both speak the Afroasiatic Cushitic languages.

Djibouti is strategically located near the world's busiest shipping lanes, controlling access to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. It functions as a major refueling and transshipment center and is a major maritime port for imports and exports from neighboring Ethiopia. A fast-growing commercial center, the country is home to a variety of foreign military bases. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) regional body is also headquartered in Djibouti.