Country Fast Facts: Djibouti



The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in 1977. Hassan Gouled Aptidon installed an authoritarian one-party state and proceeded to serve as president until 1999.


In 1999, Djibouti's first multi-party presidential elections resulted in the election of Ismail Omar Guelleh; he was re-elected to a second and final term in 2005.


The present leadership favors close ties to France, which maintains a significant military presence in the country, but is also developing stronger ties with the U.S.

Djibouti hosts the only U.S. military base in sub-Saharan Africa and is a front-line state in the global war on terrorism.

Source: CIA World Fact Book

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