Sub Saharan Africa

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

• We advise against all travel to the border with Eritrea. From 10 to 12 June 2008, there was fighting between Djibouti and Eritrea after an incursion of Eritrean forces into the disputed Djibouti border region. This led to casualties on both sides. The situation remains fragile.
  
  
• There is a general threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. Large crowds of people and public places may also be targets. See Safety and Security - Terrorism.
  
  
• There is no British Embassy in Djibouti and the Honorary Consul can offer only limited assistance. See the General -  Consular assistance.
  
  
• The main type of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in Djibouti in 2008 was replacing lost or stolen passports. You should be aware of the risk of banditry if travelling outside the capital city.
  
  
• Piracy is a significant threat in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, especially for shipping which does not take appropriate precautions or follow agreed shipping industry best practice guidelines.  See Safety and Security - Local Travel -  Sea Travel.
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See General -  Insurance.

Safety and Security -Terrorism
There is a general threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

The terrorist group Al-Shabaab, although based in Somalia, poses a threat across the East Africa region. In July 2010, Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for attacks in Uganda. The group linked the attack to Uganda’s military presence in Somalia as part of an African Union peacekeeping mission.

Djibouti and western interests within Djibouti may be seen as a legitimate target by Al Shabaab because of its support to the Somali government and the African Union peacekeeping mission. Al Shabaab has previously issued public threats against Djibouti.

British nationals should follow the advice of local authorities, exercise caution while travelling around the country and avoid large gatherings.

See our Terrorism Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime
Incidences of petty crime are not uncommon in Djibouti. You should not walk around town alone, late at night. Valuables, particularly cameras and passports should be kept out of sight.

You should be aware of the risk of banditry if travelling outside the capital city.

See our Victims of crime abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel
We advise against all travel to the border with Eritrea. From 10 to 12 June 2008, there were military clashes between Djibouti and Eritrea after an incursion of Eritrean forces into the disputed Djibouti border region. This led to casualties on both sides. The situation remains fragile and further conflict is possible.

You are advised to avoid travelling to remote areas of the country, including the border with Somaliland, in the North-West of Somalia, where the presence of security forces is low.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel
Avoid travelling outside of the city after dark; vehicles often have no lights and livestock may be roaming the roads. Roads are also narrow, poorly lit and maintained. Police set up wire coils as roadblocks on some of the major roads, which are not clearly visible at night. Land minds are prevalent in the northern districts of Obock and Tadjoura and the southern district of Ali Sabeih. 

See our Driving Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Rail Travel
Sabotage and derailment on the Djibouti/Ethiopia railway occasionally occur. If you intend to travel into the Republic of Djibouti by rail you should check with the British Embassy in Addis Ababa on the current situation before setting off.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Sea Travel
Piracy is a significant threat in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean and has occurred as far as 1000 nautical miles from the coast of Somalia. Attacks of piracy and armed robbery against vessels in and around the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin are successful almost exclusively against shipping which has not complied with agreed shipping industry best practice on self-defence measures, including on routing.  

Sailing vessels are particularly vulnerable to attack due to their low speed and low freeboard.  All mariners intending to sail through high risk areas should consider the necessity of their travel and alternatives, such as transporting the vessel by yacht carrier.

Yacht races and rallies do not have to take place in these high risk areas and place their competitors at unnecessary risk of attack. Mariners should not take part in these races.

On 23 October 2009, two British nationals were taken hostage while sailing in the Indian Ocean. They were approximately 60 nautical miles from the Seychelles’ main island of Mahé.

All mariners should follow the 'Best Management Practise for the Gulf of Aden and off Somalia' (http://www.icc-ccs.org.uk/), published by the International Maritime Bureau. We urge mariners to register with the Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa) for up to date advice and guidance on passage round the Horn of Africa - www.mschoa.org. They should also report regularly to the UKMTO (email: ukmto@eim.ae; Tel: +971 50 552 3215), giving location, course and speed, and plan their routing carefully so as to avoid placing themselves in unnecessary danger.

See our River and Sea Safety page.

Political Situation

Djibouti Country Profile

On Friday 8 April Presidential elections were held, the election passed peacefully. The incumbent President, Ismail Omar Guelleh won.

Djibouti has a predominantly Muslim population and visitors should dress in a conservative manner in the city. However, it is far less strict than other Islamic countries and use of swimwear at the swimming pool at The Sheraton Hotel and on the islands is unrestricted. Homosexual behaviour is illegal. The consumption of alcohol is permitted, but displays of drunken behaviour could result in a two-year prison term.

French, Arabic and Somali are widely spoken. Photography of infrastructure (such as ports, public buildings, airports, military facilities and bridges) is prohibited in Djibouti. Your equipment will be confiscated and you could be arrested. When taking photos near prohibited places you should exercise caution and seek local advice if you are unsure.

For more general information for different types of travellers see our Your trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visas
British nationals require a visa to enter Djibouti. Tourist visas for up to one month can be obtained on arrival at the airport. Visas can also be obtained from the French Embassy in London.

British nationals applying for a Djibouti visa in Ethiopia generally require a letter from the British Embassy in Addis Ababa for presentation at the Djibouti Embassy. There is a fee for this service payable in local currency.

Entry Requirements - Passport Validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter Djibouti. Your passport must be valid for a minimum period of six months from the date of entry into Djibouti.

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country, or in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.  For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration, please contact theFrench Embassy in London.

Entry Requirements - Departure Tax
There is a 20 US Dollars departure tax at the airport.

You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.  If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Djibouti you should seek immediate medical attention.

In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 13,000 adults aged 15 or over in Djibouti were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at around 2.5% of the adult population compared to the prevalence percentage in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See our HIV and AIDS page.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Djibouti and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Heath Network and Centre NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

Health - Climate
From May to October the climate is very hot and dry. Below average rainfall in the past four years means many regions in East Africa area experiencing a severe drought including Djibouti. You may experience difficulties travelling overland. Local services and the availability of food and water could be affected. 

See our Travel Health page.

Djibouti is in an active volcanic and earthquake zone.

General - Insurance  
You should take out adequate medical insurance before arrival and carry a comprehensive medical pack. Medical insurance should cover the cost of air ambulance evacuation out of Djibouti in the event of serious accident or illness. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See our Travel Insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General - Consular assistance
There is no British Embassy in Djibouti. The British Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is responsible for Britain's relations with Djibouti.

The Honorary Consul in Djibouti, Mr Alain Martinet, can offer only limited assistance. The British Embassy in Addis Ababa handles most consular cases. Passports and renewals are now processed in Pretoria.  For more detailed information about the passport application process please see:

http://ukinsouthafrica.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/east-west-africa-rationalisation/djibouti

General - Registration
British nationals living and working in Djibouti should register with the Consulate on first arrival. Those who are already registered should make sure that their details are kept up to date.

General - Consular Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

General - Money
Credit cards are accepted at only a very few outlets in Djibouti and it is not possible to obtain currency advances against a credit card. Visitors should have an adequate supply of hard currency or travellers' cheques.