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NAVIGATION
Republic of Djibouti
former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas
former: French Somaliland
GOVERNMENT
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti
conventional short form: Djibouti former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Djibouti |
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Administrative divisions:
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5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); 'Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura |
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Independence:
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27 June 1977 (from France) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 27 June (1977) |
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Constitution:
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multiparty constitution approved by referendum 4 September 1992 |
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Legal system:
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based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic law |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal adult |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister DILEITA Mohamed Dileita (since 4 March 2001) cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 9 April 1999 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Ismail Omar GUELLEH elected president; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH 74.4%, IDRIS Moussa Ahmed 25.6% |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (65 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: last held 10 January 2003 (next to be held NA January 2008) election results: percent of vote - RPP 62.2%, FRUD 36.9%; seats - RPP 65, FRUD 0; note - RPP (the ruling party) dominated the election |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court or Cour Supreme |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Democratic National Party or PND [ADEN Robleh Awaleh]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Abdillahi HAMARITEH]; Front pour la Restauration de l'Unite Democratique or FRUD [Ali Mohamed DAOUD]; People's Progress Assembly or RPP (governing party) [Ismail Omar GUELLEH] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Movement for Unity and Democracy or MUD |
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador ROBLE Olhaye Oudine
FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302 telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270 chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Donald YAMAMOTO
embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti telephone: [253] 35 39 95 FAX: [253] 35 39 40 |
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Flag description:
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two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red five-pointed star in the center |
ECONOMY
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Economy - overview:
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The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capital city, the remainder being mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port for the region and an international transshipment and refueling center. It has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to help support its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment rate of 50% continues to be a major problem. Inflation is not a concern, however, because of the fixed tie of the franc to the US dollar. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% over the last seven years because of recession, civil war, and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). Faced with a multitude of economic difficulties, the government has fallen in arrears on long-term external debt and has been struggling to meet the stipulations of foreign aid donors. Another factor limiting growth is the negative impact on port activity now that Ethiopia has more trade route options. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $586 million (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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0% (2001 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2001 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 3%
industry: 10% services: 87% (2001 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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50% (2001 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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282,000 |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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NA% |
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Unemployment rate:
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50% (2000 est.) (2000 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $135 million
expenditures: $182 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.) |
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Industries:
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construction, agricultural processing |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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3% (1996 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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180 million kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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167.4 million kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Agriculture - products:
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fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels |
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Exports:
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$260 million f.o.b. (1999 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit) |
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Exports - partners:
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Somalia 53%, Yemen 23%, Ethiopia 5% (1998) |
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Imports:
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$440 million f.o.b. (1999 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products |
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Imports - partners:
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France 13%, Ethiopia 12%, Italy 9%, Saudi Arabia 6%, UK 6% (1998) |
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Debt - external:
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$366 million (2002 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$36 million (2001) |
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Currency:
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Djiboutian franc (DJF) |
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Currency code:
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DJF |
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Exchange rates:
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Djiboutian francs per US dollar - 177.721 (fixed rate since 1973) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |