Djibouti

Part of Djibouti's appeal is that it does not see many travelers. Dawn over a desolate lake full of flamingoes on the wing is unforgettable. The black lava fields, weird natural chimneys blowing steam and the burning, endless plains are deserted. Diving and snorkeling around Red Sea coral reefs is fabulous. The town of Djibouti is a boisterous blend of colonial French and modern Arabic, and what it lacks in major attractions it makes up for in buzz. The city is crowded with Arab and African cultures jostling each other's prayer mats, and travelers are often regarded as curios and treated to traditional African hospitality.

This small country, which lies at the entrance to the Red Sea, is short on rainfall and high on heat. There is rainfall between November and March while, inland, Djibouti’s extensive plains attract occasional downpours during the summer months from April to October. Djibouti basks in a daily average of 9 hours sunshine all year round.

Country Description
Djibouti is a developing African country which achieved independence from France in 1977. It is governed by an elected president and parliament. Modern tourist facilities are limited.

Entry Requirements
A passport, visa and evidence of yellow fever vaccination are required. Travelers may obtain the latest information on entry requirements from the Embassy of the Republic of Djibouti, 1156 15th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005, telephone (202) 331-0202 or at the Djibouti Mission to the United Nations, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 4011, New York, N.Y. 10017, telephone (212) 753-3163. Overseas, inquiries may be made at the nearest Djiboutian embassy or consulate.

Areas of Instability
The potential for armed rebel activities exists in all remote regions of the country, particularly the areas bordering Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia.

A long-standing border dispute continues between Ethiopia and Eritrea, in an area near Djibouti’s remote northern border. The potential for armed conflict between these two countries exists and could disrupt air travel to and from Djibouti or otherwise negatively affect its security situation. U.S. citizens are advised to keep themselves informed of regional developments and to register with the U.S. Embassy upon arrival in Djibouti.

Medical Facilities
Medical facilities are limited and medicines are often unavailable. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide for payment of medical services outside the United States. Check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provision for medical evacuation. Ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor, or whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.

Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure, Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available via its home page at http://travel.state.gov/ and auto fax service at (202) 647-3000

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hotline for international travelers at tel.: 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax: 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or by visiting the CDC Internet home page at http://www.cdc.gov/.

Crime Issues
Petty crime occurs occasionally in the capital and elsewhere in the country. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to local police and to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The pamphlets A Safe Trip Abroad and Tips for Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa provide useful information on safeguarding valuables and personal security while traveling abroad and on travel in the region in general. Both are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/, or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions
In April 1998, two landmines exploded on dirt roads in Ali Sabieh District, causing fatalities. Travelers should check with local authorities before using unpaved roads. Due to narrow, poorly maintained, poorly lit streets, drivers and pedestrians in Djibouti City should exercise extreme caution to avoid accidents. Excessive speed, unpredictable local driving habits, pedestrians and livestock in the roadway, and the lack of basic safety equipment on many vehicles are daily hazards. Major roads outside the capital are paved, but lack guardrails in some areas, and railroad crossings are not clearly marked.

Drug Penalties
U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties for use, possession, or trafficking in illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. Although the mild stimulant Khat is legal and widely used in Djibouti, it is considered an illegal substance in many countries, including the United States.

Aviation Safety Oversight
As there is no direct commercial air service by local carriers at present, or economic authority to operate such service, between the U.S. and Djibouti, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Djibouti’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Djibouti’s air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at 1-800-322-7873, or visit the FAA Internet home page at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa/index.htm. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact DOD at 618-256-4801.

Registration/Embassy Location
U.S. citizens are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Djibouti. The U.S. Embassy is located at Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti City. The mailing address is Ambassade Americaine, B.P. 185, Djibouti, Republique de Djibouti. The telephone number is (253) 35-39-95. Normal working hours are Sunday through Thursday, 7:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. The after-hours number is (253) 35-13-43, and the fax number is (253) 35-39-40.

Air
Aeroflot, Air France, Air Tanzania, Corsair, Ethiopian Airlines, Yemenia and Djibouti Airlines serve Djibouti. You can also fly from Paris with the charter company Corsair.

Road
You can't enter or leave the country by land via Eritrea, because there are no border guards and you may have trouble explaining away the lack of entry stamps in your passport. There is an irregular bus service to Ethiopia.

Rail
The rail journey is far more preferable.

Water
Very few travelers manage to negotiate sea passage out of Djibouti, as there is no passenger service. Cargo boats are probably out of the question, but don't count on being able to negotiate passage to Yemen on a Dhow.

Road
Buses link the capital with virtually every town in the country.

Rail
There is a train to Ali Sabieh. Water: Boats leave daily (and unpredictably) from L'Escale in Djibouti for Tadjoura and Obock on the northeast coast of the Gulf of Tadjoura.

Clothing
Take light clothing suitable for the long, sunny days.

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia

Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries:
total: 508 km
border countries: Eritrea 113 km, Ethiopia 337 km, Somalia 58 km

Coastline: 314 km

Climate: desert; torrid, dry

Terrain: coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains

Geography—note: strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; mostly wasteland

Population: 447,439 (July 1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Djiboutian(s)
adjective: Djiboutian

Ethnic groups: Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian 5%

Religions: Muslim 94%, Christian 6%

Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti
conventional short form: Djibouti
former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland

Capital: Djibouti

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red five-pointed star in the center

Economy—overview: The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capital city, the remainder being mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port for the region and an international transshipment and refueling center. It has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to help support its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment rate of 40% to 50% continues to be a major problem. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% over the last seven years because of recession, civil war, and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). Also, renewed fighting between Ethiopia and Eritrea has disturbed normal external channels of commerce. Faced with a multitude of economic difficulties, the government has fallen in arrears on long-term external debt and has been struggling to meet the stipulations of foreign aid donors.

Industries: limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as dairy products and mineral water bottling

Agriculture—products: fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels

Exports—commodities: hides and skins, coffee (in transit) (1995)

Imports—commodities: foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products (1995)

Currency: 1 Djiboutian franc (DF) = 100 centimes

Telephone system: telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country
domestic: microwave radio relay network
international: submarine cable to Jiddah, Suez, Sicily, Marseilles, Colombo, and Singapore; satellite earth stations? Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; Medarabtel regional microwave radio relay telephone network

Railways:
total: 97 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
narrow gauge: 97 km 1.000-m gauge
note: in April 1998, Djibouti and Ethiopia announced plans to revitalize the century-old railroad that links their capitals

Highways:
total: 2,890 km
paved: 364 km
unpaved: 2,526 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Djibouti

Airports: 11 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force)

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