Foundation Islamic Union
Djibouti
Official Name: Republic of Djibouti
Capital: Djibouti
Important Cities: Ali Sabih, Dihil, Ubuk, Hur Ankar, Tajura.
Area: 23,200 km2
Population: 973.000 81% of the population lives in cities.
Number of People Per Km2: 24
Population Growth Rate: 2.9
Average Human Lifespan: 48
Ethnicity: 37 per cent of Djibouti's people are Afars, 47 per cent are Issa, and 6 per cent are Arabs, mostly of Yemeni origin.
Language: The official language of Djibouti is Arabic and French. However, ethnic elements speak their own languages among themselves.
Religion: Djibouti has no official religion. However, 99% of the people are Muslims. Muslims are Sunni Shafi'i. The remaining population is mostly Christians, most of whom are of European origin. Geographical Situation: Located west of where the Gulf of Aden meets the Red Sea, Djibouti is surrounded by the Gulf of Aden from the east, Somalia from the southeast, Ethiopia from the south, west and north. Djibouti climate is mostly arid and hot. Rains usually fall between November and May. The other months are dry.
Mode of Government: Djibouti is apparently a multi-party democratic system. However, the administration has restricted political freedoms to a great extent. On the grounds of unfairness, 51 per cent of the population did not participate in the general elections held in December 1992. The ruling party won 75 per cent of the vote and all the seats in parliament. The head of state is the president. The head of government is the prime minister. According to the constitution, the president must be from the Issa and the prime minister from the Afar. There is a 65-member legislature (National Assembly) whose members are elected by universal suffrage. The current constitution came into force on 4 September 1992. The legal system is a mixture of Islamic law, the French Civil Code and the customs of the Djiboutian people.
International Organisations: Djibouti is a member of international organisations such as the UN, OIC, Arab League, Organisation of African Unity, Gulf Cooperation Council, African Antilles and Pacific Convention, (IMF), Islamic Development Bank.
Political Parties: The country's strongest political party is the ruling People's Congress for Progress. This party is dominated by the Isas, who make up 47 per cent of Djibouti's population. It is a party in reconciliation with the West and France and defends Somali nationalism. It won all parliamentary seats in the last general elections. The second political party is the New Democratic Party. This party is also dominated by Afars. Although it received 25% of the votes in the last general elections, it could not enter the parliament due to the political games of the ruling party.
History: Islam was introduced to Djibouti by Muslims who migrated here in the 7th century. Later, voluntary inviters came and tried to spread Islam further in this region. Until the early 16th century, Muslims dominated Djibouti. At this time, Portuguese colonisers started to have a say on the coast of Djibouti. However, the dominance of Portuguese colonisers did not last long. After a while, this region came under the rule of the Ottomans. After the Portuguese, the French colonisers disturbed the people of Djibouti. France, which took Ubuk as a base and built a pier there, expanded the area under its control by forcing all the tribal chiefs in Djibouti to make an agreement with it in the following years. In 1888, it reached the borders of Somalia, which was under British occupation. After this occupation, the territory of Djibouti was called French Somalia. Today's Somalia in the south was also called British Somalia at that time. Because the British colonialists had occupied this place too. In 1888, an agreement was made between France and England and the exact borders of the two Somalis were determined. In 1897, the French made an agreement with the government of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and ceded some of their occupied territories to Abyssinia. Due to the commercial and strategic importance of Djibouti, in 1897 the French colonialists also started the construction of a railway connecting Djibouti to Adis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia today. This railway was completed in 1917. By building this railway, France aimed to keep the interior of Djibouti under control and to provide the necessary transportation facilities to easily suppress the rebellions of the Muslims against the occupation and missionary activities. The Muslim population of Djibouti never wanted to accept French colonisation. However, the French suppressed all the resistance of the Muslims with oppression and persecution. Afar Muslims started a large-scale uprising against the French colonialists in 1917. However, the French colonialists suppressed this uprising by resorting to all inhuman practices. On the other hand, the French colonialists started intensive missionary activities in order to alienate the Djibouti people from their own religion. The French were carrying out this work in two ways. On the one hand, they prohibited Islamic education and prevented Muslims from learning their religion, and on the other hand, they subjected themselves to intensive Christianisation activities through the missionaries they brought. However, despite all these efforts, they could not achieve any success in Christianisation. The fact that all Christians living in Djibouti today are of European origin is an indication of this. The only thing that the French can count as a success from their side in this regard is that by keeping the Muslims ignorant about their religion, they have revived some of their pre-Islamic customs and brought them into their present lives. After World War II, Djibouti became part of France's overseas department. Djiboutians were granted French citizenship and representation in the Senate of the French Union. In 1956, Djibouti was granted limited autonomy as French Somalia. Under this new status, the country was to be headed by a French governor, but government ministers were to be local. In September 1958, French President De Gaulle ordered a referendum on the future of French Somalia. After the referendum, it was reported that the majority of the votes were in favour of the French Somalia of Djibouti remaining in the French Commonwealth. However, it was a fact that various games were played in the referendum. After the 1958 referendum, it was realised that the results announced did not reflect the realities, as evidenced by the events that took place two years later. On 1 July 1960, when Italian and British Somalia united and became an independent state, the Isas of Somali origin in Djibouti wanted to join this independent state. In the face of this situation, Afars preferred to remain under the protection of France. This situation led to a tribal quarrel. In the face of these developments, France resorted to repressive policy again. It sent most of the Isas into exile. Then, in 1967, a second referendum was organised. After this referendum, in which most of the supporters of independence could not participate, it was announced that 60 per cent of the people wanted France. However, the result did not satisfy the people and the events continued. French troops intervened, killing many people and exiling many others. In 1970, France allowed the exiled Issa to return to their homeland. The name of the country was changed to the French Country of Afars and Isas. The Isas, who were allowed to return to their homeland, began to return in groups. After this, the struggle for independence flared up again. In the face of the developments, France had to hold another referendum in 1977. Realising that it could no longer stay in Djibouti, France announced that 98% of the people voted in favour of independence after this third referendum. Thus, the establishment of the independent Republic of Djibouti was declared on 27 June 1977. Ali Arif Burhan was appointed the first president after independence. In the elections held on 2 October 1978, Hassan Guled Aptidon, the leader of the African Union for Independence, which had previously organised the Issa struggle for independence, was elected president. In the June 1981 elections, Hassan Guled Aptidon was re-elected president for another six-year term. After the Afar party, Democratic Front for the Independence of Djibouti, challenged the election results, the constitution was amended on 19 October 1981 and the party and other political organisations were closed down. Thus, a single party system was introduced in the country. The only officially recognised party was the People's Congress for Progress, dominated by the Isas. Hassan Ghuled Aptidon ran as the only candidate for the presidency in the April 1987 elections and was re-elected president. In 1992, the multi-party system was reintroduced. However, in the December 1992 elections, the ruling People's Congress for Progress again won all the seats in the parliament. On 7 May 1993, Hassan Guled Aptidon and 4 other candidates participated in the presidential elections, but Aptidon was re-elected to the presidency with 60.76% of the votes.
Internal Problems: The tribalism, which was sown by the French colonialists, is the headache of Djibouti even today. From time to time, conflicts continue between the Isas and Afars, who have a large say in the administration. Djibouti still hosts 130 thousand Somali refugees.
External Problems: Although Djibouti is independent, it is under the political and economic pressure of France. In order not to lose its interests on this country, France also causes some internal conflicts from time to time. France also interferes in Djibouti's internal affairs and from time to time sends military forces to this country by using internal fights as an excuse. The justification for this is to ensure the life safety of the French people living in this country. However, the Djibouti administration is uncomfortable with this. Because the French soldiers are working for the further escalation of conflicts instead of ensuring stability in Djibouti.
Islamism in the country: The tribalism cause sown by the French and the fights based on this cause, the fact that the cadres who took over the administration after independence were French-oriented, the poverty of the country, the dominance of Marxists in the organisation organising the Afars' struggle against the administration and similar reasons prevented the Islamic movement from gaining power in Djibouti. However, organisations have been established in order to draw the Afars' struggle against the government to an Islamic line and to raise their awareness in terms of Islam. However, these organisations carry out their activities from outside the country.
Economy: Djibouti's economy is mostly based on trade and income from transport services. The railway from Djibouti to Adis Ababa gives importance to the port of Djibouti. This railway connects the port of Djibouti with Ethiopia and some Central African countries. In addition, the establishment of a free trade zone around the port of Djibouti has given the city a commercial and touristic importance. The port of Djibouti is also used as a supply port by ships using the Red Sea and the Suez Canal route. Therefore, the port of Djibouti is an important source of income for the country's economy. The share of income from trade and transport services in the gross domestic product is 48%. Arable lands constitute only % of the country's territory. The most produced agricultural products are dates, corn and various vegetables and fruits. Agricultural products meet only 3% of the country's need. In 1992, 22 thousand tonnes of vegetables were produced. A quarter of Djibouti people live with nomadic animal husbandry. Therefore, the livestock sector is considered good. According to 1992 figures, there are 180 thousand heads of cattle and 450 thousand heads of sheep in the country. Some of the inhabitants of the coasts make a living by fishing. However, fishing is not very good. In 1991, 400 tonnes of fish and seafood were caught. The administration is trying to develop the fisheries sector. For the time being, fish production only meets domestic consumption.
Currency: Djibouti Franc.
National Income Per Capita: 670 USD.
Foreign Trade: Livestock, meat and leather are the main products exported. The main imported goods are machinery, electrical vehicles, transport vehicles, durable consumer goods, petroleum and petroleum products, textile products and foodstuffs. Foreign trade is mostly with France. After France, it has commercial relations with Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, Japan, USA, Italy, England and the Netherlands. France has an important influence on the economy of Djibouti. For this reason, France's freezing of some relations with this country in early 1992 and the imposition of some economic sanctions put the country into a serious distress.
Industry: Industry is very backward. There is no industrial organisation except some small industrial plants and workshops.
Energy: Djibouti produced 178 million kw/h electricity in 1991. Electricity is usually produced in thermal power plants.
Transportation: There is an airport open to international traffic near Djibouti city. There are also 2 other airports with scheduled flights. It has a port used for export and import in Obok and Djibouti, and 10 ships capable of carrying cargoes over 100 gtons. There are 106 km. railway and 2880 km. highway. The railway consists of the part of Djibouti - Adis Ababa railway within Djibouti borders. On average, there is one motorised transport vehicle for 34 people in Djibouti.
Health: 13 hospitals, 100 doctors, 10 dentists, 360 nurses are available. There is one doctor for 5650 people.
Education: Primary education is not compulsory in Djibouti. Primary school is six years, secondary school is four years and high school is three years. The French education system is followed. Since most of the teachers are also French, lessons are generally taught in French. There are 66 primary schools and 32 secondary schools. The rate of primary education is 39% and the rate of secondary education is 12%. There is no university in Djibouti. Those who want to study at university usually go to France. The literacy rate is 34 per cent.
Administrative Division: It consists of 12 districts and 200 administrative units.
