The tiny African nation of Djibouti serves as a gateway to the Suez Canal, one of the world's busiest shipping routes. Its port is the lifeblood of its economy in this otherwise barren country. Djibouti gained its independence in 1977. It is the successor to French Somaliland, which was created in the first half of the 19th century as a result of French interest in the Horn of Africa. However, the history of Djibouti, recorded in poetry and songs of its nomadic peoples, goes back thousands of years to a time when Djiboutians traded hides and skins for the perfumes and spices of ancient Egypt, India, and China. Through close contacts with the Arabian Peninsula for more than 1,000 years, the Somali and Afar tribes in this region became the first on the African continent to adopt Islam. Djibouti's society and culture were influenced by Islam, which remains a significant aspect of life in the country to this day. About two-thirds of the Republic of Djibouti's inhabitants live in the capital city. The indigenous population is divided between the majority Somalis (predominantly of the Issa tribe) and the Afars (Danakils).
Due to its strategic location and relative stability, Djibouti is a prized spot for foreign military bases. Former colonial ruler France maintains a significant military presence. The country also hosts the USA's largest military base in Africa, China's first overseas military base and Japan's first military base since the Second World War. There is also military presence from several other countries like Sweden, Germany and Spain. Tourism in Djibouti is relatively scarce.
Djibouti City
The capital city is not large and it may take you at most a few hours to walk all the interesting parts, which are the quarters around the big square at Place Mahmoud Harbi and Place Rimbaud. The large square is a combination of a bus station and an open market. Around the market, there's a mix of french colonialism and Moorish architecture. People sit on the streets, chat, enjoy tea, chew khat and simply see the world go by.
