Djibouti

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