Category: Djibouti

The Republic of Djibouti was one of the last African colonies to gain independence in 1977. It has arid land and a strategic location in the area that connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean. In the Middle Ages, their nomadic tribes were influenced by Islam. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to explore the region, in the 16th century. France colonized the region, in the 19th century. In 1896, it came to be called the Côte Française des Somalis. In 1967, it was renamed the French Territory of the Afars and Assas. The name Republic of Djibouti was adopted after independence in 1977. There are 847 thousand residents (2016). The capital has the same name as the country and is the main city and port.