Maps of Africa locating Djibouti

Little is known about this east Africa country situated on the Horn of Africa and bordered by Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. Djibouti is located on the Gulf of Aden, near the entrance to the Red Sea, on of the world's key shipping lanes.

In 1892 the country was colonized by the French. In 1977 she gained independent from France and Hassan Gouled became the first President. The country had its first general elections in 1981 and Gouled was the only candidate. In early 1990s Civil War broke out in Djibouti. The main opposition party, the Front for the Renewal Democracy demanded a change in the country's leadership, arguing against an autocratic system of government and political intolerance.

Further information

• For a broad overview of African independence.
• http://www.tsp.gatech.edu/world/djmap.html - for a large map
• http://www.arab.net/djibouti/ and
• http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107467.html - provide business, geographic, historic and transport information
• http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/dj.html and
• http://travel.state.gov/djibouti.html - for the CIA's and the U.S. State Dept's take on Djibouti
• http://allafrica.com/djibouti/ - for breaking news on Djibouti
• http://www.gksoft.com/govt/en/dj.html - links to government departments and political parties
• http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/djibouti.html - is an annotated collection of many Djibouti-related sites

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