# data[].attributes.body
The Trusted Guide

# data[].attributes.body
Djibouti occupies a strategic geographic location at the mouth of the Red Sea. It serves as a transshipment location for goods entering and leaving east African highlands. Djibouti currently has close ties with France, which gives Djibouti a significant military presence, but it’s also developing stronger ties with the United States. Djibouti even hosts the only United States military base in sub-Saharan Africa and is in the front line in the global war against terrorism.

# data[].attributes.body
Djibouti’s capital is Djibouti City. Its population is 974,503, as of 2018. Its population is about equivalent to that of Delaware. Its official languages are Arabia and French. Djibouti is mostly barren, and hardly any development in agricultural and industrial sectors. This makes most of its economy from the Red Sea.

# data[].attributes.body
Djibouti is a presidential representative democratic republic, where executive power is exercised by the President and the government. The government is headed by the President, who appoints a Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. There is also a 65-member chamber of deputies, where representatives are elected for terms of five years. The country is divided into five regions and one city, with eleven additional district subdivisions. Djibouti is also part of various international organisations, including the United Nations and Arab League.

# data[].attributes.body
Djibouti is culturally and ethnically diverse, which is why several languages are spoken there. French is used as the medium of instructions in schools, as well as government and business. In antiquity, the territory was once part of the Land of Punt, a ancient kingdom that did trades with Egypt. Later, Djibouti and other local areas in the region became the Adal and Ifat Sultanates. In the late 19th century, the colony of French Somaliland was established after treaties were signed with the ruling Issa Somali and Afar Sultans. A decade later, the Djiboutian people voted for independence, officially beginning the Republic of Djibouti.

# data[].attributes.body
As a multi-ethnic country, Djibouti has a rich culture based on tribal traditions. Djibouti’s people consume spicy dishes such as a vegetable stew called “yetakelt w’et” and boiled beef soup called “fahfah”, or soupe Djiboutienne.” They also eat rice and lentils. The national dish, however, is “skoudehkaris”, which is a mixture of rice, tomatoes, onions, and lamb or chicken.There are two major ethnic groups in the country along with other tribes and clans. The major religion they follow, however, is Islam. Traditional music resembles folk music in other parts of the Horn of Africa such as Ethiopia; it also contains elements of Arabia music. Djiboutian art is the artistic culture of the Somali. Both historical and contemporary. Much of Djibouti’s original art is passed on and preserved orally. Some of the oldest art are in prehistoric rock paintings.

# data[].attributes.body
Some fun facts:

Djibouti is just a little smaller than the state of Massachusetts.

Las Assal is the saltiest lake outside of Antarctica.

Djibouti is the third smallest country in Africa, after Swaziland and Gambia (smallest).

Sources:

www.travelingeast.com/africa/djibouti

www.britannica.com/place/Djibouti

www.mapsofworld.com