Djibouti As Never Seen

[Carafaat]

Je detest Djibouti, c'est la dictature et un colony d'francais.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Carafaat never understood ur dislike for Djibouti what do you have against Djibouti its people and its President.

[Abu-Salman]

Djibouti's plants seeds for human capital with a new Islamic finance institute

 

“We are committed not only to the regulatory aspect of the business but we are also highly aware that the industry will not grow if the relevant human capital is not available and in view of that, we are also working on the establishment of an Islamic finance institute where students will take up at an early stage Islamic finance as a subject of study,” H.E. Djama M. Haid, Governor of the Central Bank of Djibouti, told Islamic Business & Finance in an exclusive interview.

Islamic finance classes are already taught at the University of Djibouti[...]

 

“Djibouti has a strong banking market which is open to the world, particularly East Africa. Djibouti offers a strategic passageway for Islamic finance to penetrate the African market. Djibouti guarantees access to Africa, in particular the vast COMESA market.”

 

 

 

Djibouti Conference Focuses on Africa

 

 

David McLean, CEO of IBSA 2012, said, “As a result of the recent policy revisions, regulatory changes and economic reforms in key markets on the continent, Africa has now been re-positioned as the third fastest growing region in the world, after the Middle East and Asia. The resurrection of Africa’s trade ties with the rest of the world has resulted in an increased international investor interest in the region.”

 

He continued, “The rapid expansion of the major economies in the region has also resulted in the need to invest heavily in developing vital infrastructure. These factors highlight the tremendous opportunity that Africa presents for the growth of Islamic finance and also indicate how Islamic finance can play a key role in catalyzing economic development in the region.”

 

The governor of Djibouti’s central bank, Djama M. Haid, will be making the inaugural speech at the event. Commenting on the Central Bank’s involvement, he said, “Islamic finance is undoubtedly one of the most exciting and high growth areas of the global financial sector.”

 

“With the total assets of Islamic banks globally hitting the $1 trillion mark at the end of the 2011 and with the industry expected to grow to $2 trillion by 2015, financial centers outside the traditional Islamic markets of the Middle East and Southeast Asia are increasingly positioning themselves to play a vital role in the further development of the Islamic finance industry and to attract investments that are sharia-compliant.”

 

 

The much celebrated Somali brand's bank division:

Dahabshil Bank International

[Abu-Salman]

The former Somali president Adan cadde proposed a pan-Ummah organization to king Faysal, thus paving the way to the OIC; this was reminded at the inauguration ceremony by pres. Guelleh and then by the Somali Foreign minister madam Fozia.

The Somali FM was at the centre of the major conference in Djibouti (retransmitted on a separate Arabsat channel by the RTD) and keenly briefed about the recent positive developments in Somalia, a key concern for Djibouti but also important members of the vast organization (not least Turkey who invests a lot more regionally nowadays).

 

 

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Singapor links & investors

 

[...]In response, Mr. Cody Lee, Director of the Division of Global Affairs for the Middle East and Africa area of ​​Singaporean Business Federation, expressed his sincere thanks to his hosts.

He insisted thereafter on the timeliness of this movement, because he said, Djibouti and Singapore show strong similarities.

Our two countries show similarities, he said, with regard to their size or geographical reduced their small populations or their last pole positions on major routes.

In addition, Djibouti and Singapore have preferably focused on certain sectors including typical service activities to support their economies, he added.

In light of all these factors, he continued, we must encourage the development of a strong economic partnership and trade relations between Djibouti and Singapore.

Then it was the turn of the members of the delegation of Singapore to present their individual sectors and their radius of action and their respective investment prospects for Djibouti.

 

Djibouti ... a virgin market that asserts itself in the heart of a network of partners well established on the continent.

 

After the usual introductions, place to the technical presentations with details and specifics strengths.

President of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Said Omar Moussa, is responsible for the initial projections.

In this sense, he brilliantly gave one comprehensive overview of all the key elements in the economic health of our country.

Intuitively, it puts the spotlight on the fact that our aggregates and macroeconomic indicators are all green.

Thus, he was able to develop his presentation on the evolution of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP acronym), while emphasizing its rapid growth over the last decade.

In addition, he showed his pride in the growth our economy has been surfing on for many years.

With his natural composure, he recalled that our currency, the Djiboutian franc, has a fixed parity with the American Dollar with all that this implies in continued momentum of our import and export activities to leave us with a large trade balance surplus.

The boom has a positive effect in our dealings with our partners in the Comesa market, he said.

Our country consitutes a virgin market and especially a gateway to a market subsequent to the hundreds of millions of consumers across the sub-region and between our immediate neighbors in Northern and Southern parts of the continent.

The flexibility of our investment code has permitted the massive influx of foreign direct investment and port services such as the free zone favored the emergence of a flourishing trade.

He closed his presentation on the exceptional quality of services offered by our ports and our zone and then he gave the microphone to President Authorities Ports and Free Zones, Mr. Omar Hadi Aboubaker.

 

Billions of U.S. Dollars soon injected into our port infrastructure...

 

Echoing the presentations, Mr. Aboubaker Omar Hadi initially announced major lines of topics related to port infrastructure.

He planned to take stock of existing infrastructure and future expansions and construction of new ports and terminals at several sites in the country.

It can hold among the forecasts, titanic construction projects of new ports and terminals or free zones and storage terminals.

For example, a terminal for the repair and maintenance of ships at a cost of 400 million U.S. dollars will be created.

Similarly, an oil terminal at a cost of 50 million U.S. dollars will be operational in the same period.

Ports in Tadjourah and Goubet, whose respective estimated costs amounted to 180 million U.S. dollars and 64 million U.S. dollars, are also provided.Free Zones in Khor Ambado and Jabanas will also be set up.

A terminal for the processing of Natural Gas Liquid will be added to the oil port of Doraleh.

On the other hand, a port of landing for cattle will spring up in Damerjog.

Besides, the upcoming construction of an airport village in Damerjog will have cargo and freight capacities. Finally, the new company Djibouti Shipping Company 'will emerge.

The total cost of these investments amount to a whopping 4,301 billion U.S. dollars and covers a period of three years from the year 2012.

 

Needless to say, our Singaporeans friends were heavily impressed at the end of these presentations which gave them food for thought.

They have in this sense asked all the clarifications necessary to seize all investment opportunities that were available to them in the context of massive expansions.

They then engaged in individual and vivid exchanges with contractors in Djibouti.

The Djiboutian business community strongly represented at the occasion, warmly gave great detail and clarification on growth areas and key sectors of our economy in order to facilitate their entry into our economic fabric.

The meeting was concluded by the exchange of gifts between the CCD and the Federation of Enterprises in Singapore.

This first meeting bodes well for the beginning of a new partnership and a desired increase in economic relations between the business communities of the two countries (ministere-finances.dj)

 

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The Port of Djibouti is now the second largest port after the Durban one to have such a facility in Eastern and Southern Africa

 

[...]It also demonstrates the willingness of the manager to provide the means of its ambitions to completely modernize the port of Djibouti.

Indeed, AID has made significant investments in purchases of modular floating dock, a floating bridging, twelve Mafi tractors, five 45-ton trucks and two new powerful tugs to serve the next generation of vessels that are already available on site.

Incidentally, eight trailers will soon be delivered to the Port of Djibouti.

As acquisitions, they are part of the development of the port infrastructure and will optimize the safety conditions of services or assistance to ships the PAID undertakes for all other ports and terminals in Djibouti.[...]

[...]These equipment enabling repairs to be carried out at the local level, are synonymous with savings in time and costs for the Port of Djibouti. While they were once outsourced abroad.

The Port of Djibouti is now the second largest port after the Durban one to have such a facility in Eastern and Southern Africa.(Lanation)

 

 

[Abu-Salman]

With the influx of new airlines as well as hotels, even the Kempinsky is offering luxury full packages for as little as $750 (excursion and hotel included: Djibouti Palace Kempinski - Remarkable offers ).

 

 

 

 

[Che -Guevara]

Good progress!

 

Djibouti was sh!t hole when I was as there, though this was one 21 yrs ago. I am glad things are looking up. Abu Salman, how high or low is unemployment among the working age people and in particular the youth?

[Abu-Salman]

Djibouti finalising finances for new ports

By Beatrice Gachenge

 

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Djibouti's port authority is close to securing $4.4 billion from international banks to finance the building of five new ports in the next four years to meet growing demand for trade boosted by South Sudan's gaining of independence.

The horn of Africa nation's main port primarily serves its landlocked neighbour Ethiopia, which accounts for about 70 percent of traffic, but began handling landlocked South Sudan's trade after the country seceded from Sudan in July.

Traffic through the port, run by Dubai's DP World, the world's third-largest port operator, is seen as a key economic indicator for the region as a whole. DP World also runs the Doraleh Container Terminal, with an annual handling capacity of 1.2 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units).

"Our total investment in the port and marine services related business is $4.4 billion for the five ports and dry dock development and free zones," Aboubaker Omar Hadi, chairman of the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority told Reuters.

"We have secured up to 85 percent. We are discussing with our traditional lenders. We are hoping to conclude and finalise the issue of financing in the coming weeks," he said, speaking on the sidelines of an infrastructure conference in Kenya's capital, Nairobi.

Hadi said that besides loans from China, Brazil and the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), the port would be financed up to 35 percent from internal revenues.

Some of the new ports will include Tadjourah, located on the north coast of Djibouti which is expected to handle 4 million tonnes of potash exports a year and Port of Goubet will have a capacity of 4.5 million tonnes a year of salt exports both by end of 2013.

Funds for another, the Damerjog livestock port, and phase II of Tadjourah are yet to be secured, Hadi said.

 

BE LIKE TANGIER, DURBAN PORTS

 

Djibouti's container port handled 705,000 TEUs in the whole of 2011 and that will rise further this year.

"We are going to end this year with 900,000 TEUs, so we hope by mid-2013 Djibouti will be the third African port to cross the 1 million TEUs, after Durban and Tangier in Morocco," Hadi said.

The tiny red sea nation also plans to handle cargo from other landlocked countries in the east African region as well as parts of southern Africa, taking advantage of congestion at Kenya's main port, Mombasa.

"What we are expecting in terms of (total) throughput in South Sudan volume currently, is 6.5 million tonnes," Hadi said, referring to the potential trade of South Sudan.

"Out of the 6.5 million tonnes, we are planning to move through Djibouti, 70 percent. This would be 15-20 percent of the total volume of Djibouti port," he said, adding it would be achieved in the next 12 months.

South Sudan, building from scratch after years of civil war with the north, raised its shipment volumes through Kenya's port in 2011 by 87 percent, becoming the second biggest user of the Mombasa port after Uganda.

Djibouti, located on one of the world's busiest maritime sea routes, hosts France's largest military base in Africa plus a major U.S. base, and the port is used by foreign navies patrolling busy shipping lanes off the coast of Somalia to fight piracy.

The country also plans to double its main port's container capacity to 3 million TEUs in the next two years, after a $330 million expansion.

"We are on the feasibility study ... and it will be completed by May this year, after that we will decide when we are going to start construction," said Hadi.

 

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Cement plant in Ali Sabieh: the project is progressing

 

At the end of a trip made last Wednesday in the capital of the region of Ali Sabieh, the Minister of Economy and Finance, in charge of Industry and Planning, Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, has seen first hand the progress of construction of the plant.

The Minister of Economy and Finance, responsible for Industry and Planning, Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, visited Wednesday the chief town of the region of Ali Sabieh where he inspected the construction of the cement . This politician has visited various facilities already erected on site and those nearing completion of the plant.

And this in company of several of his collaborators it should be stressed, but also the CEO of Bank of Africa Abdelali Nadifi, prefect Mohamed Waberi Assoweh and President Mohamed Mahamoud Gueldon of the Regional Council of Ali Sabieh.

In this trip, Mr. Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh drew some satisfaction in examining the operating system that will monitor all stages of the production chain up to the packing of cement.

In a brief statement made on our micro colleagues audiovisual, banker Abdelali Nadifi said the commissioning of the cement plant will have a real impact on developing the country in general and the region of Ali Sabieh in particular.

"The Bank of Africa now accompany the Djibouti government in its infrastructure projects," he said in substance.

For its part, the Minister of Economy and Finance has confirmed that the inauguration of the cement plant Sabieh Ali is scheduled in the month of December.

In this context, Mr. Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh was convinced that the region of Ali Sabieh is promised a bright future..(La Nation)

 

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A second, privately owned Cement plant (larger than the State sponsored facility)

 

[...]the laying of the foundation stone of the second cement project by the President of the Republic, Mr. Ismail Omar Guelleh: the private cement plant "Shoura Djibouti", by the Egyptian giant "Shura Group".

The Head of State, who spoke briefly, recalled how the future cement plant strengthen the national process already in place as part of our ongoing fight against poverty.

Secondly, President Ismail Omar Guelleh has long challenged the business community in Djibouti to support this noble initiative by participating in the equity of that company. And, already, in the cost of building the plant.

The acceptance that others can gain market share and equity in various projects in Djibouti initiated by Shoura Group is clearly one of the constants of the policy of this financial group. Thus, he had already announced yesterday, on the occasion of the inauguration of the bank, its willingness to integrate external capital to its own, up to 40%.

"The laying of the cornerstone of the Shura cement plant in Ali Sabieh, djibouti, will provide incentives for the creation of an industrial center. This commitment fits perfectly into the overall objective of the government's industrial policy that promotes establishment of a performing industrial network performance, capable of supporting both upstream and downstream development of agriculture and livestock, valuing natural resources ", said Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Rifki Abdoulkader Bamakhrama, which stated in part that "this project will create at least 200 jobs on site, and constitute therefore a definite answer to the problems of youth unemployment, which affects the region."

 

Else, we should remember that the new plant, whose operation is to take effect after two years of construction, will cover an area of ​​25 hectares. It aims to produce 1.5 million tonnes of cement per year. For a total investment of about U.S. $ 220 million.

It thus certain: the importance of its production capacity will end the ever-frequent shortages of cement in the local market and ensuing prices. Forever. And this, with two thirds of the production designated for export. (La Nation)

 

 

[Abu-Salman]

Renewable Energies

 

However, on the horizon is the potential to generate massive amounts of power in Djibouti by exploiting the country’s geothermal assets. Located at the junction of three tectonic plates, Djibouti has significant geothermal potential, and with many points beneath sea level and lying on the Great Rift Valley, drilling presents a more viable and affordable option to many other places.[...]

The government of Djibouti has already given the green light to one such project, reaching agreement for a $20m programme with the Global Environment Facility, World Bank and OPEC. The development phase will be in the form of a public private partnership. The drilling of exploratory and production wells is scheduled to be completed by 2013 with generation capacity of 56MW coming on stream by 2018.[...]

Early next year, a €35m desalination plant and an adjoining windfarm supplying 20MW, will begin construction with a view to completing by the end of 2014. There is also a 62MW wind farm being proposed for the Ghoubet region. By 2018, Djibouti has the ambition to be one of the first countries in the world to have 100% of its electricity consumption from renewable energy. (NewAfrican)

 

The Indian group TransProvincial ready to invest 500 million USD in Djibouti

 

CERD DJIBOUTI: Installation of an experimental measurements tower at Goubet's future wind farm site (entirely realised through local expertise):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UhmrhP_067s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>

 

Japanese investor delegation led into Puntland & Regional Fishing potential

(Lanation)

 

Pres. Hassan first visit abroad & exceptional welcome

[Abu-Salman]

The cornerstone for the huge tadjourah port and railway project has been laid out: jeuneafrique.com.

Always envied my sibling trips as dad did the market study for the old mineral water plant there and regularly led students by sea back then.

 

An historic and multicultural (Cushitics, Arabs, Ottomans etc) port city with a record of 13 centuries of sea trading key to regional commerce, recently eclipsed, this scheme is expected to revive this part of the country along the other projects and booming regional mining exports, oil and other sectors (huge potash reserves to transit locally, pipeline for S. Sudan crude exports, refinery etc).

 

 

Mining Prospects & Exploration:

 

Djibouti is at an early stage in terms of exploration activities for hydrocarbons. There is a limited amount of data and although exploration activity has picked up elsewhere in East Africa and Yemen during the last 25 years, Djibouti remains very much underexplored.

However, Oyster Oil is confident, based on its work to date, that a number of potential oil bearing basins...(Oyster Oil & Gas)

 

Oyster Meeting in Djibouti with President

 

 

Bonanza gold grades

 

In East Africa, grassroots exploration in the Ethiopian Rift Valley and extending into Djibouti has identified multiple gold-bearing veins with some surface gold values exceeding an ounce per tonne (32 g/t) of gold.

Stratex’s success in the region attracted Thani Ashanti, an AngloGold Ashanti JV company that has become an important Stratex partner and is funding a package of exploration licences in Ethiopia and Djibouti – the “Afar Project”. AngloGold Ashanti is also a substantial shareholder in Stratex International (11.52 per cent).

The most exciting recent development is the partnership’s discovery of the Pandora epithermal vein system in Djibouti, where a gold-bearing vein up to 2.5 metres in width is exposed over approximately 1,500 metres. Drilling should start in the first half of next year".

 

Going for gold in Turkey and Africa

 

 

"GOOD MORNING, DJIBOUTI (A Bright Future awaiting Oil and Gas Exploration Activities in Djibouti)

 

Today, I would like to introduce the Republic of Djibouti to you (The YGSN's Members) and all other interested professional Worldwide. We believe in that it is Djibouti's TIME and that it is the most suitable TIME to rebuild Djibouti based on real reform programs, which only specially designed to introduce Djibouti with a new modern dress to the whole World. As, we also believe in that, Djibouti will surprise all with its Oil and Gas discoveries in the near future! Where a bright future awaiting Oil and Gas Exploration Activities in Djibouti (Especially, in the field of Gas Exploration mainly offshore and onshore and also the field of generating electricity power by using Djibouti huge reserve of Renewable Geothermal Energy)" (The Yemeni Geology and Stratigraphy Network (YGSN)).

[galbeedi]

Does any one remember booli qaran in mogadhisho, that is exactly what you see. all these buildings and mansions are

owned by the ruling class with foreign aid money. it is the most expensive place in Africa. the ruling class get paid one

million franks a month which is equivalent of 6500 dollars. it is one city of 700,000 people including the small towns.

the only airline they have is owned by the president and it is parked in south Africa, when he needs to fly some where

the south african pilots bring to Djibouti. electricity costs $300 a month for the poor., water is scarce, unemployment is

50% for the youth , their are no universities and the elite send their kids to France. It is treble place if you are poor or

a regular people. He gets money from France, European union, Saudis, Iran and many other countries. their are no newsapers

or private Tv and no one can question the dictator

[Raamsade]

Galbeedi, I never liked Djibouti to begin with because their women are budd-ugly and men too short not to mention walk a little funny. But what you wrote, if true, really does it for me. Down with the Gheelle dictator!

[Abu-Salman]

Construction of Tadjourah Port Kicks Off

 

 

 

 

 

Reforms Update

 

• Healthcare services upgrade (endorsed and welcomed by the WHO) :

   

  - generics & community pharmacies for affordable medicines on the national essential list (central purchase & regulations organ established)

   

  - National medical school established, scholarships & experts sent in; wide ranging cooperation, crucially with Cuba (international halth services and training provider)

   

  - Fully equipped regional hospitals; national teaching hospitals at Peltier and Balbala Italian hospitals.

• Cost of Living (not exhaustive list):

   

  - Subsidies and staples price controls reinforced, more farming land acquired abroad & national production upgrade schemes (date palms, irrigation and fishing; mining and prospection for resources encouraging)

   

  - Energy & Telecoms prices reduced respectively by 30% (preliminarily, more to follow) and around 80%; more interconnections and renewable projects for very competitive water & electricity programmed for next years or ongoing.

   

  - Local import substitution and nascent industries: new cement plants expected to export, light processing and packaging (notably in the Free Zone), printing, basic pharmaceuticals with Djibpharma etc through public-private partnerships and attractive climate for FDI flows (refinery etc programmed; new opportunities with S Sudan crude pipeline, regional mineral resources and agricultural production transiting locally etc).

• Governance, Press & Elections

   

  - Anti-corruption and Ethics board to join the Court of Accounts or national audit system for greater transparency, stricter regulations.

   

  - Local elections introduced as part of the devolution and success for the opposition; dosage of proportional representation to allow for diversity in the national assembly or parliament for the first time.

   

  - Press and publishing allowed greater freedom with opposition mini papers.

[Abu-Salman]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[raula]

spectacular. Tadjourah-had some relatives go there to escape the summer heat-wave-NICE!

[Abu-Salman]

Lo siento Che; statistics, albeit not accurate, do not account for undeclared activities, domestic roles etc but youth unemployment rates of 40-50% a la EU are forwarded I guess.

I did not have politics in mind for this geography thread as some insisted on; please, let's post those politics or critical comments on the other relevant threads.

 

 

How democratic is Djibouti?

 

Granted independence in 1977, Djibouti is a young but real democracy. The recent local elections which took place in February 2012 saw the President’s party beaten by the opposition. These elections were viewed as free and fair by the international community, and resulted in the opposition taking up the post of Mayor of Djibouti City, the capital, where most of the population lives.

Further progress is needed though to increase the quality of political debate across the country. In advance of the next legislative election, the President has committed to changing the electoral system from first-past-the-post to proportional representation. This will ensure that the opposition is better represented in Parliament. A Senate will also be created to ensure that the five ethnic communities of Djibouti continue to be fairly represented in the Parliament.

Further reforms to improve the quality of our democracy are an important priority for the President and the Government. It is for the benefit of all Djibouti people.

It is also worth mentioning that our reforms go hand-in-hand with our drive for improved governance. Increased transparency can only strengthen the President’s efforts towards democracy. For example, we are implementing a system of checks and balances within government operations. We are committed in our fight against corruption. In fact, the new anti-corruption and ethics high commission, which was born as a result of the anti-corruption Act, is totally independent and has real authority.

Within the same Act, we introduced for the first time a clause that necessitates a full declaration of assets by senior (department heads onwards) and their immediate families.

We are also bringing full transparency and independence to a vital government activity, which is procurement. Starting this coming October, all government tenders will be overseen by the Commission des Marches, (Tenders Committee), which will be formed by people representing different government departments. The committee is independent, and the tendering process will be managed through a procurement government website.

These examples above demonstrate the government’s intention of taking Djibouti forward with a strong but transparent and soundly-managed government into a promising future for all Djibouti people. (Finance minister to Diplomat magazine)

 

 

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Breakfast with Djibouti Finance Minister

 

 

[...]Djibouti also plays a central role in international trade, with 80% of the world’s oil trade and one third of all international trade passing through the region. It has the largest container terminal in east Africa, with one million containers being processed there each year, and has the biggest fibre-optic cable network in Africa, making it vital to continental progress in telecommunications.

 

Dawaleh outlined his country’s vision for 2035. Building on existing strengths, Djibouti aims to become the largest logistic hub in Africa, using 100% green energy. Also, they hope to become the number two destination in the world for scuba diving, after Sharm-el-Sheik. The key to these ambitions is to improve Africa’s poor infrastructure, which Dawaleh identified as being a root cause of poverty. Becoming better connected will help to change that and combat the challenge of youth unemployment. The ICT sector will provide much needed jobs. Erickson is one company that has come to Djibouti. In the past, education in Djibouti has favoured the theoretical over the vocational: in future, young people will be trained in the practical skills required to help take their country forward.

 

 

The talk was attended by Inspector General Hassan Issa Sultan, the Ambassadors of Finland and Ethiopia, the High Commissioner for Cameroon and diplomatic representatives from Australia, Nigeria, British Virgin Islands, the Czech Republic and others.

 

The Finnish Ambassador, His Excellency Mr Pekka Huhtaniemi, identified a ‘hub’ strategy, and enquired whether Djibouti saw places such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and Panama as role models, and asked about the role of financial services. The Minister felt Singapore was the closest model for Djibouti and stressed that good infrastructure was vital to developing financial services. He indentified the stable currency in Djibouti as a major advantage: there has been no fluctuation in the exchange rate with the $US since 1949. ($1 = 1.76 Djibouti Francs).

 

The High Commissioner of Cameroon, His Excellency Mr Nkwelle Ekaney, asked about the need for foreign investment in infrastructure. Dawaleh agreed that foreign direct investment was needed and confirmed that Djibouti had recently made a $300 million investment agreement with the Chinese government.

 

APCO's Tomas Eymond-Laritaz asked about the democratic future of the country where the Government lost a regional election in Djibouti City (home to 80% of the country’s population) three months ago. The Minister said that at the next elections in January 2013, a move to proportional representation should allow a minority opposition to emerge. Ultimately, Djibouti’s vision for 2035 relies on peace and political stability and developing a better infrastructure to enable it to make even better international connections.(Diplomat magazine)

 

 

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Geography

 

 

The landscape of Djibouti is varied and extreme, ranging from rugged mountains in the north to a series of low desert plains separated by parallel plateaus in the west and south. Its highest peak is Mount Moussa at 6,654 feet (2,028 metres); the lowest point, which is also the lowest in Africa, is the saline Lake Assal, 509 feet (155 metres) below sea level.

 

The country is internationally renowned as a geologic treasure trove. Located at a triple juncture of the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and East African rift systems, the country hosts significant seismic and geothermal activity. Slight tremors are frequent, and much of the terrain is littered with basalt from past volcanic activity. In November 1978 the eruption of the Ardoukoba volcano, complete with spectacular lava flows, attracted the attention of volcanologists worldwide. Of particular interest was the tremendous seismic activity that accompanied the eruption and led to the widening by more than a metre of the plates between Africa and the Arabian peninsula.

 

Drainage

Besides Lake Assal, the other major inland body of water is Lake Abbe, located on Djibouti’s southwestern border with Ethiopia. The country is completely devoid of any permanent above-ground rivers, although some subterranean rivers exist.

 

Plant and animal life

 

Despite Djibouti’s relatively harsh landscape, abundances of flora and fauna abound. In the northern portion of the country, one finds the ancient Day Forest National Park and a variety of tree species, such as jujube, fig, olive, juniper, and momosa. To the south and southwest of the Gulf of Tadjoura, the vegetation is similar to that found in other arid regions of Africa, inclusive of acacia and doum palm trees. Among the types of fauna are a wide variety of bird species, numerous types of antelopes and gazelles, and more limited numbers of carnivores (such as cheetahs) and scavengers (such as hyenas), as well as monkeys, squirrels, and warthogs. Perhaps most spectacular is the extremely rich diversity of marine life found along Djibouti’s coastline and coral reefs, a factor that has made the country a special point of interest for international scuba-diving associations.