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French acquire Obock
France buys the port of Obock, the first step toward French Somaliland and a coaling station on the Suez route.
Countries / Djibouti
Djibouti
Djibouti City
Gateway to the Bab-el-Mandeb: ports, bases and Afar–Issa heritage.
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Djibouti — Country Profile
History · Geography · Politics · Economy · Allies · Future
- Area
- 23,200 km²
- Population
- ~1.1 million (2024)
- Languages
- French & Arabic (official); Somali & Afar widely spoken
- Currency
- Djiboutian franc (DJF), pegged to USD
- Government
- Presidential republic
- Capital
- Djibouti City
Djibouti was known as French Somaliland from 1896, then the French Territory of the Afars and Issas after 1967, before gaining independence on 27 June 1977 — the last French mainland-African possession to decolonise. President Hassan Gouled Aptidon ruled until 1999; Ismaïl Omar Guelleh has led since. The country navigated a 1991-94 civil war and today plays a diplomatic role well beyond its small size.
Djibouti — Interactive Timeline
7 history & development milestones — tap a marker to read
Djibouti — Last 24 Hours
Live headlines aggregated from international sources
8 clips
News & Politics
2 clips
Djibouti briefing
Presidency updates.
IGAD summit
Regional diplomacy.
Ports & Logistics
3 clips
Doraleh terminal
Container hub.
Ethiopia rail link
Addis–Djibouti railway.
Free-trade zone
DIFTZ operations.
Culture & Landscape
3 clips
Afar pastoral song
Danakil recordings.
Lake Assal
Africa's lowest point.
Djibouti coastal songs
Seafarer melodies.
