©DLIFLC 1 Table of Contents Chapter 1: Geography ......................................................................................................... Introduction ..................................................................................................................... Geographic Divisions and Topographic Features ........................................................... Climate ............................................................................................................................ Bodies of Water .............................................................................................................. Cities ............................................................................................................................... Djibouti ....................................................................................................................... Ali Sabieh.................................................................................................................... Dikhil .......................................................................................................................... Tadjoura ...................................................................................................................... Obock .......................................................................................................................... Natural Hazards ............................................................................................................ Environmental Issues .................................................................................................... Chapter 2: History ............................................................................................................. Introduction ................................................................................................................... Pre-Colonial History ..................................................................................................... Enter the French ............................................................................................................ French Somaliland ........................................................................................................ Internal and External Concerns ..................................................................................... World War II ................................................................................................................. Post-War Somaliland .................................................................................................... Road to Independence ................................................................................................... The Hassan Gouled Era ................................................................................................ The Djibouti Civil War ................................................................................................. The Ismail Omar Guelleh Era ....................................................................................... Chapter 3: Economy ......................................................................................................... Introduction ................................................................................................................... Agriculture .................................................................................................................... Industry ......................................................................................................................... Energy Resources.......................................................................................................... Mineral Resources ........................................................................................................ Trade ............................................................................................................................. Tourism ......................................................................................................................... Banking and Currency .................................................................................................. Investment ..................................................................................................................... Transportation ............................................................................................................... Standard of Living ........................................................................................................ Chapter 4: Society ............................................................................................................. Introduction ................................................................................................................... Ethnic and Linguistic Groups ....................................................................................... Afars .......................................................................................................................... Issa Somalis .............................................................................................................. Others ........................................................................................................................ ©DLIFLC 2 Religion ......................................................................................................................... Gender Issues ................................................................................................................ Traditional Clothing ...................................................................................................... Arts ................................................................................................................................ Folklore and Folk Traditions ........................................................................................ Sports and Recreation ................................................................................................... Chapter 5: Security ........................................................................................................... Introduction ................................................................................................................... U.S.-Djiboutian Relations ............................................................................................. Relations with Neighboring Countries.......................................................................... Eritrea ........................................................................................................................ Somalia ..................................................................................................................... Ethiopia ..................................................................................................................... Yemen ....................................................................................................................... Military ......................................................................................................................... Terrorist Groups and Activities .................................................................................... Other Issues Affecting Stability .................................................................................... Access to Food, Water, and Energy .......................................................................... Piracy ........................................................................................................................ Election Protests........................................................................................................ Link to Completed Certification....................................................................................... Further Reading ................................................................................................................ ©DLIFLC 3 Chapter 1: Geography Introduction Located at the entrance to the Red Sea and close to the Arabian oil fields, the small East African nation of Djibouti (about the size of Vermont) is bordered by Ethiopia to the west and south, Somalia to the southeast, and Eritrea to the northwest.1, 2, 3 Besides natural ports with rail links into land-locked Ethiopia, Djibouti’s strategic position on one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes—connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean—is the nation’s most important economic asset.4, 5 Djibouti’s natural resources include petroleum, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, and potential geothermal power from active volcanoes.6 The northernmost region of Djibouti lies on the Bab el Mandeb, a narrow 29 km (18 mi) strait that separates the Red Sea from the Gulf of Aden.7 South of the Bab el Mandeb, the Djibouti coast is indented by the Gulf of Tadjoura, an east–west inlet that adjoins the Gulf of Aden.8 At the southeastern end of the Gulf of Tadjoura is the city of Djibouti, the nation’s capital and major port. The western end of the Gulf joins Ghoubbet el Kharâb, a shallow bay separated by a narrow strait from the rest of the Gulf. Inland, much of Djibouti is a barren desert strewn with volcanic rock. The desert is scorching hot for 9 much of the year. 1 Central Intelligence Agency, “Djibouti Country Profile,” in The World Factbook,