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Sub Saharan Africa

Djibouti

 Flag of Djibouti

Map of Djibouti Last reviewed: 23 October 2008

Country information

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Djibouti hosts the Secretariat of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). Relations with Ethiopia centre on Ethiopia’s use of Djibouti port for the major part of its imports and exports. Relations with Eritrea, which had been improving after a difficult patch preceding and during the war between Eritrea and Ethiopia (1998-2000), are now at an all time low after an incursion of Eritrean troops into Djiboutian territory in June 2008, which resulted in 30 Djiboutian dead and over 100 injured.

Djibouti takes a close interest in Somalia.  It hosted the UN sponsored talks between the Transitional Federal Government and the Alliance for Re-Liberation of Somalia, which resulted in the agreement of a peace deal on 9 June 2008.  This was then signed by both parties on 19 August 2008. Djibouti has also developed working relations with the authorities in Somaliland which fall short of full recognition.


Djibouti has very close links with France which provides significant amounts of aid and financial support. 2,700 French troops remain stationed in Djibouti under agreements signed at independence. Djibouti also hosts 1,500 US troops (US State Dept, 2008) and is the headquarters of the US led Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) which support counter terrorism activities in the region.

RELATIONS WITH THE UK

Diplomatic Representation

The UK is represented in Djibouti by an Honorary Consul, supported by our Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Djiboutian diplomatic representation in the UK is covered by their Embassy in Paris.

Recent Visits

Former Foreign & Commonwealth Office Minister, Kim Howells visited Djibouti in June 2008.

For parliamentary interest, see the Hansard website.

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