Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Djibouti
conventional short form:
Djibouti
former:
French Territory of the Afars and Issas French Somaliland
Digraph:
DJ
Type:
republic
Capital:
Djibouti
Administrative divisions:
5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); 'Ali Sabih, Dikhil,
Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura
Independence:
27 June 1977 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
Constitution:
multiparty constitution approved in referendum 4 September 1992
Legal system:
based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic
law
Suffrage:
universal adult at age NA
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President HASSAN GOULED Aptidon (since 24 June 1977); election last
held 7 May 1993 (next to be held NA 1999); results - President Hassan
GOULED Aptidon was reelected
head of government:
Prime Minister BARKAT Gourad Hamadou (since 30 September 1978)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; responsible to the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Deputes):
elections last held 18 December 1992; results - RPP is the only party;
seats - (65 total) RPP 65
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders:
ruling party:
People's Progress Assembly (RPP), Hassan GOULED Aptidon
other parties:
Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), Mohamed Jama ELABE; Democratic
National Party (PND), ADEN Robleh Awaleh
Other political or pressure groups:
Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD) and
affiliates; Movement for Unity and Democracy (MUD)
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user),
INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UNCTAD, UNIDO,
UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Roble OLHAYE
chancery:
Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone:
(202) 331-0270
FAX:
(202) 331-0302
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Martin CHESES
embassy:
Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti
mailing address:
B. P. 185, Djibouti
telephone:
[253] 35-39-95
FAX:
[253] 35-39-40
Flag:
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
@Djibouti, 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. 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 (an important
supplement to GDP) to help support its balance of payments and to
finance development projects. An unemployment rate of over 30%
continues to be a major problem. Per capita consumption dropped an
estimated 35% over the last five years because of recession, civil
war, and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and
refugees).
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $500 million (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-1% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$1,200 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
over 30% (1989)
Budget:
revenues:
$170 million
expenditures:
$203 million, including capital expenditures of $70 million (1991
est.)
Exports:
$158 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
partners:
Africa 47%, Middle East 40%, Western Europe 12%
Imports:
$334 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products
partners:
Western Europe 48%, Asia 25%, Africa 8%
External debt:
$355 million (December 1990)
Industrial production:
growth rate 3% (1991 est.); manufacturing accounts for 12% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
115,000 kW
production:
200 million kWh
consumption per capita:
580 kWh (1991)
Industries:
limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as dairy products and
mineral-water bottling
Agriculture:
accounts for only 2% of GDP; scanty rainfall limits crop production to
mostly fruit and vegetables; half of population pastoral nomads
herding goats, sheep, and camels; imports bulk of food needs
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY78-89), $39 million; Western
(non-US) countries, including ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-89), $1.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $149 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $35 million
Currency:
1 Djiboutian franc (DF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1 - 177.721 (fixed rate since 1973)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Djibouti, Communications
Railroads:
the Ethiopian-Djibouti railroad extends for 97 km through Djibouti
Highways:
total:
2,900 km
paved:
280 km
unpaved:
improved, unimproved earth 2,620 km (1982)
Ports:
Djibouti
Merchant marine:
1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWT
Airports:
total:
13
usable:
11
with permanent-surface runways:
2
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
4
Telecommunications:
telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate as are the
microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country;
international connections via submarine cable to Saudi Arabia and by
satellite to other countries; one ground station each for Indian Ocean
INTELSAT and ARABSAT; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV
@Djibouti, Defense Forces
Branches:
Djibouti National Army (including Navy and Air Force), National
Security Force (Force Nationale de Securite), National Police Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 99,811; fit for military service 58,346
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $26 million, NA% of GDP (1989)
@Dominica, Geography
Location: Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about halfway between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago Map references: Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 750 sq km land area: 750 sq km comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 148 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall Terrain: rugged mountains of volcanic origin Natural resources: timber Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 13% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 41% other: 34% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat; occasional hurricanes international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
@Dominica, People