Djibouti
Independent since 1977, Djibouti is a small and semi-desertic country. Located in East Africa, it borders with Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somaliland. With a population of over 900,000 inhabitants, its official languages are Arabic and French.
Its strategic position on the Bab el Mandeb Strait, which separates the Red Sea from the Gulf of Aden, allows it not only to operate as a key logistics hub for international trade, but also to play an important role for security in the region. The country hosts various foreign military bases, including an Italian one.
Total trade with Italy amounts to $18.9 million (2021). In 2020, Djibouti signed a military cooperation agreement with Italy. The treaty sets several objectives directly affecting Italy and security in the broader Mediterranean, such as the strengthening of mutual defensive capabilities, the fight against piracy in the Horn of Africa and the development of the supply and logistics sectors of both countries. Other areas of cooperation include humanitarian and peacekeeping operations, the organisation of Djiboutian armed forces, military training and military health.
From Iran’s assertiveness to tensions between actors in the Horn of Africa, via piracy and terrorism: the role of the strategic straits in the new instability of the Gulf-Red Sea quadrant.
From the protection of maritime trade to the stability of the Horn of Africa: the importance of Djibouti’s military facilities for Mediterranean and European security.
| Head of state | Ismail Omar Guelleh |
| Head of Government | Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed |
| Institutional Form | Semi-presidential Republic |
| Capital | Djibouti City |
| Legislative Power | Unicameral Legislative Assembly (65 Members of Parliament elected every year) |
| Judicial Power | Supreme Court; Constitutional Council |
| Ambassador to Italy | Ayeid Mousseid Yahya (Ambassador in France, also responsible for Italy) |
| Total Area kmq | 23,300 km2 |
| Land | 22.980 km2 |
| Weather | Tropical-desert climate on the coast and in the north of the country, and semi-desert on the central-southern heights |
| Natural resources | geothermal energy, gold, clay, marble, limestone, granite, salt, plaster, diatomaceous earth, pumice, oil |
| Economic summary | The main resources of economy are imports and the service activities connected to the strategic position of the Djiboutian port on the Red Sea. Unemployment rate: 40%. Youth unemployment rate: about 80% |
| GDP | $3.37 billion (December 2021) |
| Pro-capite GDP (Purchasing power parity) | $5.394 (December 2021) |
| Exports | $4.94 billion (DJF 2020/2021) |
| Export partner | Ethiopia 31.3%, China 27.5%, India 10%, Saudi Arabia 9.98%, Egypt 3.2%, UK 3.8%, South Korea 2.8%, UAE 1.5%, Malaysia 1.9% (2020) |
| Imports | $5.37 billion (DJF 2020/2021) |
| Import partner | China 43%, UAE 14%, India 6.2%, Türkiye 5.9%, Morocco 4.6%, Indonesia 3.6%, Japan 1.8% (2020) |
| Trade With Italy | $18,9 million (2020) |
| Population | 957.273 (2022) |
| Population Growth | +1.97 (2022 est.) |
| Ethnicities | Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other groups 5% (especially Yemenis, French, Ethiopians and Italians) |
| Languages | French and Arabic |
| Religions | Islam 94% and Christianity 6% (foreigner residents) |
| Urbanization | 78.4% |
| Literacy | 70% |
Independent since 1977, Djibouti is a small and semi-desertic country. Located in East Africa, it borders with Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somaliland. With a population of over 900,000 inhabitants, its official languages are Arabic and French.
Its strategic position on the Bab el Mandeb Strait, which separates the Red Sea from the Gulf of Aden, allows it not only to operate as a key logistics hub for international trade, but also to play an important role for security in the region. The country hosts various foreign military bases, including an Italian one.
Total trade with Italy amounts to $18.9 million (2021). In 2020, Djibouti signed a military cooperation agreement with Italy. The treaty sets several objectives directly affecting Italy and security in the broader Mediterranean, such as the strengthening of mutual defensive capabilities, the fight against piracy in the Horn of Africa and the development of the supply and logistics sectors of both countries. Other areas of cooperation include humanitarian and peacekeeping operations, the organisation of Djiboutian armed forces, military training and military health.
