World Factbook
Djibouti
République de Djibouti (French)/ Jumhuriyat Jibuti (Arabic)
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green, with a white isosceles triangle based on the left side that has a five-pointed red star in the center meaning: blue stands for sea, sky, and the Issa Somali people, green for earth and the Afar people, and white for peace; the red star stands for the struggle for independence and unity
Capital
name
Djibouti
etymology
the name is said to derive from the Afar word gabouri , meaning "plate," in reference to a palm-fiber plate used for ceremonial purposes
time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
11 35 N, 43 09 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
the mother must be a citizen of Djibouti
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Constitution
history
approved by referendum 4 September 1992
amendment process
proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; Assembly consideration of proposals requires assent of at least one third of the membership; passage requires a simple majority vote by the Assembly and approval by simple majority vote in a referendum; the president can opt to bypass a referendum if adopted by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; constitutional articles on the sovereignty of Djibouti, its republican form of government, and its pluralist form of democracy cannot be amended
Country name
former
French Somaliland, French Territory of the Afars and Issas
etymology
the country name derives from the capital city of Djibouti
local long form
République de Djibouti (French)/ Jumhuriyat Jibuti (Arabic)
local short form
Djibouti (French)/ Jibuti (Arabic)
conventional long form
Republic of Djibouti
conventional short form
Djibouti
Independence
27 June 1977 (from France)
Legal system
mixed system based primarily on the French civil code (as it existed in 1997), Islamic religious law (in matters of family law and successions), and customary law
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (consists of NA magistrates); Constitutional Council (consists of 6 magistrates)
subordinate courts
High Court of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; customary courts; State Court (replaced sharia courts in 2003)
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court magistrates appointed by the president with the advice of the Superior Council of the Magistracy (CSM), a 10-member body consisting of 4 judges, 3 members (non-parliamentarians and judges) appointed by the president, and 3 appointed by the National Assembly president or speaker; magistrates appointed for life with retirement at age 65; Constitutional Council magistrate appointments - 2 by the president of the republic, 2 by the president of the National Assembly, and 2 by the CSM; magistrates appointed for 8-year, non-renewable terms
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
chief of state
President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999)
election results
2021: Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president for a fifth term; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH (RPP) 97.4%, Zakaria Ismael FARAH (MDEND) 2.7%
head of government
Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil MOHAMED (since 1 April 2013)
most recent election date
9 April 2021
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term; prime minister appointed by the president
expected date of next election
April 2026
National holiday
Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
National color(s)
light blue, green, white, red
Political parties
Front for Restoration of Unity and Democracy (Front pour la Restauration de l'Unite Democratique) or FRUD National Democratic Party or PND People's Rally for Progress or RPP Peoples Social Democratic Party or PPSD Union for Democracy and Justice or UDJ Union for the Presidential Majority coalition or UMP Union of Reform Partisans or UPR
Legislative branch
note
note: most opposition parties boycotted the 2023 polls, stating the elections were "not free, not transparent, and not democratic"
term in office
5 years
number of seats
65 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
legislature name
National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
2/24/2023
expected date of next election
February 2028
percentage of women in chamber
26.2%
parties elected and seats per party
Union for the Presidential Majority (UMP) (58); Union for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) (7)
National anthem(s)
title
"Jabuuti" (Djibouti)
history
adopted 1977
lyrics/music
Aden ELMI/Abdi ROBLEH
National symbol(s)
red star
Administrative divisions
6 districts ( cercles , singular - cercle ); Ali Sabieh, Arta, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjourah
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 331-0302
chancery
1156 15th Street NW, Suite 515, Washington, DC 20005
telephone
[1] (202) 331-0270
chief of mission
Ambassador Mohamed Siad DOUALEH (28 January 2016)
email address and website
info@djiboutiembassyus.org https://www.djiboutiembassyus.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[253] 21-45-31-29
embassy
Lot 350-B Haramouss, B.P. 185
telephone
[253] 21-45-30-00
mailing address
2150 Djibouti Place, Washington DC 20521-2150
chief of mission
Ambassador Cynthia KIERSCHT (since 17 October 2024)
email address and website
DjiboutiACS@state.gov https://dj.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, ATMIS, AU, CAEU (candidates), COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction