Happy Independence Day Djibouti

“A wound inflicted by a friend does not heal” - Djiboutian Proverb

(Djibouti flag (1977-Present))

Djibouti is located in the Horn of Africa.

(Map of where Djibouti is located)

Its capital is Djibouti City. Djibouti City is also its largest city. The official languages are French and Arabic. The country is 8,958 square miles. Djibouti is 96% African, 3% Asian and 1% European. 94% of Djibouti practices Islam and 6% practice Christianity. The total population is 828,324. The climate is arid in Djibouti. Djibouti is a dominant party semi presidential republic.

(Djibouti City, capital of Djibouti)

Djibouti cuisine consists of Soupe Djiboutienne (spicy boiled beef soup), and yetakelt w'et (spicy mixed vegetable stew).

(Djibouti cuisine)

The major style of music is Balwo.

(Djiboutian man performing Balwo)

Djibouti’s most popular sport is soccer.

(Djibouti’s soccer team)

Humans 1st inhabited Djibouti around the 25th century BC.

(Djibouti ancient drawings)

Djibouti was 1st called Punt. King Parahu and Queen Ati ruled Punt.

(A drawing of Queen Ati (Middle) and King Parahu (Right))

In 1285 the Walashma dynasty took control.

(Warriors of the Walashma dynasty)

In 1862 the name was changed to Obock. It was also ruled by Somali and Afar Sultans.

(An Afar man)

In 1883 France colonized the country.

(Flag of Djibouti (1883-1977))

France then named the country French Somaliland. In 1958 a referendum was held in French Somaliland to decide whether to join the Somali Republic or to remain with France.The referendum turned out in favour of a continued association with France, partly due to a combined yes vote by the sizable Afar ethnic group and resident Europeans. In 1967 it was renamed French Territory of the Afars and the Issas. Also in 1967 a 2nd referendum was held in Djibouti to decide whether to join the Somali Republic or to remain with France. The country sided with staying with France. In 1977 a third referendum took place. A landslide 98.8% of the electorate supported disengagement from France. On June 27th, 1977 Djibouti gained its independence.

(Djibouti flag (1977-Present))

Hassan Gouled Aptidon became the 1st president.

(Hassan Gouled Aptidon)

Djibouti joined the Organization of African Unity, the Arab League and United Nations. In 1986 the nascent republic was also among the founding members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development regional development organization. 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.

(FRUD soldiers)

In 2000 the impasse ended in a power sharing agreement. In 2010 Ismail Omar Guelleh became president.

(Ismail Omar Guelleh)

Today marks the 40th anniversary of Djibouti’s independence and we would like to say happy independence day Djibouti.

Videos of Djibouti Independence

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6I7m-cNw_M  “JUIN 1977. Premier jour de la République de DJIBOUTI”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enfhykBZQBA  “Ha Xoroobo Caasaqu 2015 Amina Afrik iyo Djibouti Independence Day”