National name: Jumhouriyya Djibouti
Government
Republic with a unicameral legislature.
Geography
Djibouti lies in northeast Africa on the Gulf of Aden at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The country is mainly a stony desert, with scattered plateaus and highlands.
Historical Background
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. Unrest among the Afars minority during the 1990s led to a civil war that ended in 2001 following the conclusion of a peace accord between Afar rebels and the Issadominated government. 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.
Capital
Djibouti
Government
Semi-presidential republic
Language
Arabic and French
National Holiday
New Year's Day
Religion
Islamic
Area
Total 23,200 km2 (149th) 8,958 sq mi
Population
2009 estimate 864,000[2] (160th) 2000 census460,700 Density37.2/km2 (168th) 96.4/sq mi
Currency
Franc (DJF)
GDP
Total 2.101 billion
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