Djibouti: The “Afro-Arab” State in East Africa

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Credit: www.britannica.com

Djibouti, is a country on the Horn of Africa, is known as the little Afro-Arab State in the East Africa. This is because the country is home to a small population of Yemeni Arab.

Djibouti is mostly French- and Arabic-speaking country.

Its port is the lifeblood of its economy, providing the biggest source of income and employment for the people.

Djibouti is a prized location for foreign military bases and ensured a steady flow of foreign assistance. This is because of its proximity to restive areas in Africa and the Middle East and its relative stability.

Former colonial power, France maintains a significant military presence. The country also hosts America’s largest military base in Africa.

China’s first overseas military base and Japan’s first military base since the Second World War is in Djibouti.

Black my colour my originality

Djibouti serves as the main gateway for trade for its giant neighbour, landlocked Ethiopia.

Djibouti is a member of African Union, the Arab League, the Francophonie, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

A small but important country, Djibouti benefits from its highly strategic location. With access to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean beyond, the country is a significant gateway to the Horn of Africa and the wider region of East Africa.

The capital, Djibouti city, is one of the warmest and driest cities in the world. Average temperatures here range from 23°C in winter to 42°C in mid-summer

Facts File about Djibouti

Dialing code: +253

Credit: djiboutiembassyus.org

President: Ismail Omar Guelleh

Continent: Africa

Capital: Largest city is Djibouti

Currency: Djiboutian franc

Official Languages: French and Arabic

National Languages: Somali, Afar

Population: 958,920 (2018) World Bank

Credit:charterforcompassion.org                                                Djibouti City

Flag: National flag consists of a horizontal stripe of light blue over one of light green and, at the hoist, a white triangle bearing a red star.

The light blue represents the Sky, and the green represents the everlasting green of the earth. The red star stands for unity and the bloodshed of martyrs.

Food: Skudahkharis is indisputably the national dish of Djibouti. Commonly prepared during the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, it is made of rice, lamb and ayurvedic spices such as cardamom. It can also go well with chicken, beef or fish.

East Africa has 18 countries:

Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea,  Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, South Sudan

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