AFRICA SEVENTH STOP DJIBOUTI

BACKGROUND :


Africa covers 6 per cent of the surface of the Earth and provides 20.4 per cent of Earth’s landmass. Occupying this massive and significant territory there are 1.1 Billion people. Africa is the second largest and second most populous continent on Earth.

DJIBOUTI

I confess that until I began researching for this post, I did not know that Djibouti is a country. I had heard the name, but believed it was simply a city , " somewhere in Africa". But that is part of the purpose of this exercise : to educate me about Mother Africa.

Djibouti is a Republic bordered by Eritrea in the North, Somalia in the South East, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in the East and Ethiopia in the South and West. It is small and is the 150th largest country in the World and the 46th largest in Africa ( 2 are smaller). It is the 160th most populous country in the world with a population of 900,000, and the 45th most populous country in Africa.

The people of Djibouti are Somali and Afar by ethnic origin. 94% of the population are Mohammedans. The country's strategic location on the Red Sea and adjacent to the Indian Ocean has guaranteed it a successful maritime role for transhipment and refuelling. It also serves as the principal import/export Port for neighbouring Ethiopia.

The country's territory has been the site of significant settlement since neolithic times.Along with northern Somalia, Eritrea and the Red Sea coast of Sudan , Djibouti is believed to have been part of the Land of Punt as it was known by the ancient Egyptians. Most of the 1,000 years of Mohammedan occupation have reflected tedious internal power struggles.In the late 19th Century the French moved into this shamble , and by a series of treaties gained control, naming the area French Somaliland. In 1958 a referendum voted to stay associated with France - largely because of the votes of the Afar people. A second vote on 1968 chose a somewhat looser association with France.It still did not satisfy the ethnic Somalis who wanted independence such as their brothers across the border in Somalia enjoyed. In 1977 a third vote was taken and a majority of 98.8% supported disengagement from France and independence. In the early 1990s there ws substantial civil unrest, which was only settled by the two major parties agreeing to a power sharing arrangement in 2000.


Economic activity is divided 80% Services Sector, 17% Industry and 3 % Agriculture.  Weather is very hot by Australian standards with AVERAGE high temperatures equalling Sydney Summer highs and record temperatures as high as 47 degrees Celsius for June through to August. Average Low Temperatures are more like Sydney Summer Temperatures and Record Lows are typical Sydney Winter Maximums.

Djibouti is a vest pocket surprise and offers yet another brush stroke in the rich picture that is Africa.