20 Djibouti Facts: Land of Contrasts and Cultural Fusion

Djibouti, also famous as the Republic of Djibouti, is a country that is strategically located in the Horn of Africa near the Red Sea.

For a nation of its size, Djibouti has unbelievably strange landscapes, like deep ravines, salt lakes, majestic cantons, salt lakes, basaltic plateaus, extinct volcanos, and sunken plains. 

So, in this article, we will now discuss some interesting facts about Djibouti.

1. It is home to the lowest point in Africa

Djibouti is home to Lake Assal, which is -155 meters or -509 ft below sea level. It is Africa’s lowest point and third-lowest point on Earth. It comes after the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea.

Actually, Lake Assal is Djibouti’s version of the Dead Sea, and the water of this lake is completely saturated with salt, so no one can swim there. Dormant, dark volcanoes encircle this unique crater lake. Also, its shores are carpeted with spheres of angular halite and gypsum.

2. It shares a land border with three nations

Ethiopia borders Djibouti in the west and south, Eritrea in the north, and Somalia in the southeast. Djibouti is the eighth-smallest country in Africa, with a total area of 9000 square miles, which is larger than the U.S. state of New Jersey.

Furthermore, this African country has a total coastline length of about 195 miles or 314 kilometers. 

3. It is the least populated country on the African mainland

With a population of a little more than one million, Djibouti is famous as the least populous country on the African mainland and also the fifth-least populated nation in Africa.

Also, about 90% of land in the country is covered in desert, while 9% is pasture land, and the remaining part is almost forest. In addition, as a result of the hot and mostly dry climate of Djibouti, there are no permanent above-ground rivers or streams flowing through the nation.

4. Once, it was a part of the ancient kingdom of Aksum

Aksum was a city and a kingdom mainly present-day Eritrea, northern Ethiopia, and Djibouti. The kingdom existed between the 2^nd century and the 10^th century. Also, its polity was centered in Aksum City. As per legend, Aksum is considered the resting area of the Ark of the Covenant. 

At its apogee in the 3^rd to 6^th centuries, the empire of Aksum was reckoned to be one of the world’s foremost powers. However, from the 7^th century, Aksum started to decline.

5. France colonized the country

Because of its commercial and strategic importance on the Red Sea coast, Djibouti was threatened by many powers. In this “Scramble for Africa” procedure, the Horn of Africa was partitioned among Italy, Britain, and France.

France established its colonial foothold in 1852 along today’s northeastern coast of Djibouti. This tentative venture turned out to be the protectorates of Obock and Tadjoura in 1884-1885, which were merged to create French Somaliland. This happened after the ruling Afar sultans and Somalis each signed a treaty with the French.

6. Djibouti’s two largest ethnic groups

In Djibouti, most people belong to one of the two main ethnic groups, the Afars or the Danakils and the Issa Somalis. Though the Somalis and Afars are linguistically and culturally related, they have traditionally been rivals for economic and political power. 

The Somalis are concentrated in the capital of Djibouti and makeup almost 60% of the country’s population. More than half of the Somalis are of the Issa clan.

The Afars are concentrated in southwestern and northern parts of the nation and makeup about 30% of the population of Djibouti. 

7. Djibouti’s official religion is Islam

Djibouti’s state religion is Islam, and almost all of the nation’s population is Sunni Muslim. In Djibouti, the Islam that is practiced is actually less conservative than in several other Islamic nations. Alcohol consumption is openly tolerated in Djibouti, even though alcohol is frowned upon by Islam.

8. It achieved independence in 1977

In the late 1940s, the Issa Somalis performed several anti-colonial demonstrations. They favored forming “Greater Somalia,” encompassing all the parts of the Horn of Africa where Somalis were the dominant ethnic group. Also, at that time, the Afars supported French rule.

In 1958 and 1967, two independence referendums were held in Djibouti, which rejected independence. On 27 June 1977, Djibouti finally won its sovereignty from France and became the Republic of Djibouti.

9. The capital and currency of Djibouti

Djibouti is the eponymous capital and also the largest city of Djibouti. Except city stakes such as Singapore, several world cities dominate their country as Djibouti does. The capital has almost two-thirds of the country’s population.

The country’s capital city is built on coral reefs that jut into the gulf’s southern part. These coral reefs can protect both marine and human life and also are vulnerable to rising sea surface levels.

Moreover, the Djiboutian franc, or DJF, has been pegged against the USD since 1949.

10. In Africa, the only permanent US military base is in Djibouti

Djibouti is home to the one and only permanent base of the US military on the African continent.

The location of this country on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait offers it great economic and geostrategic importance because this narrow strait offers access to the Suez Canal and also is world’s one of the busiest shipping routes.

As a small nation in a fractious area marked by bloody border wars and ethnic conflicts, Djibouti has closely collaborated with a foreign power to ensure its security.

11. French and Arabic are the official languages

French is used in the media, print, judicial system, higher education, and also in public services. Also, Arabic is taught as the first language in primary and secondary schools and carries religious importance.

Besides these two office languages, the mother tongue of the vast majority of Djibouti’s people are Afar and Somali. Both of these belong to the larger Afroasiatic Cushitic language family.

12. Since its independence in 1977, Djibouti has had only two presidents

Only two men have ever worked as the leader of Djibouti since it became independent in 1977. The first President of Djibouti was Hassan Gouled Aptidon from 1977 to 1999, and the current president is Ismail Omar Guelleh since 1999.

13. From 1991 to 1994, Djibouti suffered a civil war

The country has always been hounded by ethnic tension between Issas and Afars. In 1977, after the independence of Djibouti, Issas dominated the military, civil service, and also the political scene of the country.

Due to the uneven sharing of power in Djibouti, tensions again started to flare between the Afars and Issacs, resulting in a 1991 Afar attack on military barracks in Tadjourah. 

The battle continued until late 1994, when most organization leaders brokered a peace accord. Despite the peace accord, ethnic hostility between the Issas and Afars hasn’t subsided completely.

14. The country has won only one Olympic medal

In the Summer Olympics in 1984, Djibouti first competed. The first and only Olympic medal of this country came at the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul when Hussein Ahmed Salah won a bronze in the men’s marathon. Also, Djibouti has never competed in the Winter Olympics.

Also, in Djibouti, there are no UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

15. Skoudehkaris is the national dish, and football is the most popular sport in Djibouti

Djibouti’s national dish is Skoudehkaris, an aromatic one-pot rice and lamb dish enriched with the mouth-watering flavors of cumin, cilantro, cayenne pepper, cloves, tomatoes, and cardamom. Occasionally, the lamb may be substituted for fish, chicken, or beef.

Also, football is the most popular sport in Djibouti. However, Djibouti’s national football team, which ranked 185^th in the world, has never qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations or the FIFA World Cup.

16. A critically endangered bird, the Djibouti Francolin can only be seen in Djibouti

One of the more than forty species of francolins, the endemic Djibouti Francolin can only be seen in the juniper forests in the mountains of Djibouti. This bird of the pheasant family can be recognized by its grayish-brown color and white streaks and stripes.

However, the number of these birds has fallen by almost 70% in forty years due to unprecedented weather conditions, and its current number is estimated to be between 200 and 500 adults.

17. Here photographing infrastructure like public buildings, ports, airports, and bridges is prohibited

A really weird law in Djibouti is that taking photographs of infrastructure like airports, ports, bridges, and public buildings is strictly prohibited. Failure to comply may result in your photographic equipment being confiscated, and you may even be arrested.

18. The flag of Djibouti

The Djibouti flag comprises two horizontal stripes of light green and light blue, with a white triangle featuring a red star.

The blue color represents the Issa people and the sky and sea; the green color represents the Afar people and prosperity; the white triangle represents peace and equality. The red star represents independence and unity.

19. In Djibouti, the addictive narcotic khat is used by many

The citizen of Djibouti widely chews the addictive narcotic called khat. The leaf is imported from Kenya and Ethiopia, giving the user a mild amphetamine-like high.

This chewable plant is a major part of East African culture Yemen, and Southern Saudi Arabia. Though it is legal in Djibouti, it is still forbidden in public sector jobs and office workspaces.

20. Lac Abbe, a bizarre dystopian landscape, can be seen here

In Djibouti, you will see the bizarre dystopian landscape of Lac Abbe. It is a plateau dotted with numerous limestone chimneys, some 160 ft high and belch puffs of steam. 

So, Djibouti is an African country with unique landscapes, rich history and culture, interesting people, delicious cuisine, and many more.

At the end of this article, we have learned 20 interesting facts about Djibouti that offer us a clear picture of this unique country. To get some additional amazing facts, you can see our website.