Capital: Djibouti
Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia ( slightly smaller than Massachusetts )
Registration Embassy and Consulate:
U.S. citizens are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Djibouti. The U.S. Embassy is located at Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti City. The mailing address is Ambassade Americaine, B.P. 185, Djibouti, Republique de Djibouti. The telephone number is (253) 35-39-95. Normal working hours are Sunday through Thursday, 7:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. The after-hours telephone number is (253) 35-13-43, and the fax number is (253) 35-39-40. The web site address is: http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/dj1/wwwhindex.html
Background:
The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in 1977. A peace accord in 1994 ended a three-year uprising by Afars rebels.
Ethnic Groups:
Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian 5%
Language:
French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Currency:
DJF
Djiboutian franc (DJF)
Djiboutian francs per US dollar - 177.721 (fixed rate since 1973)
Climate:
Desert; torrid, dry
Population:
460,700 (July 2001 est.)
Religion:
Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Medical:
Medical facilities are limited, and medicines are often unavailable.
U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide for payment of medical services outside the United States. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas may face extreme difficulties.
Please check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provision for medical evacuation and for adequacy of coverage. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost thousands of dollars. Please ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor, or whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.
Safety:
Travelers should exercise caution when traveling to any remote area of the country, including the borders with Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, since the Djiboutian security forces do not have a widespread presence in those regions. U.S. citizens are advised to keep themselves informed of regional developments and to register with the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti City upon arrival in Djibouti.
U.S. citizens should avoid large crowds, political rallies, and street demonstrations and maintain security awareness at all times.
Traffic Safety:
While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Djibouti is provided for general reference only, and it may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Safety of Public Transportation:
Poor
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance:
Poor
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance:
Poor
Availability of Roadside/Ambulance Assistance:
None
Land mines are known to be present in the northern districts of Tadjoureh and Obock. In addition, mines are believed to be present in the Ali Sabieh district in the south. Travelers should stay on paved roads and should check with local authorities before using unpaved roads. Travel by road is not recommended from Tadjoureh City to Obock district due to the presence of land mines on the main and side roads and the very poor condition of the roadway. The two main international routes to Djibouti City via Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, and Yoboki, Djibouti, are in poor condition due to the passage of 1000 heavily-laden trucks per day. The presence of so many trucks on those routes demands vigilance by drivers. Major roads outside the capital are paved, but they lack guardrails in some areas, and railroad crossings are not clearly marked.
The Department of Defense and the national police force share responsibility for road safety in Djibouti. Due to narrow, poorly maintained, and poorly lit streets, drivers and pedestrians in Djibouti City should exercise extreme caution to avoid accidents. Excessive speed, unpredictable local driving habits, pedestrians and livestock in the roadway, and the lack of basic safety equipment on many vehicles are daily hazards. Speed limits are posted occasionally, but they are not enforced. The stimulant drug khat is widely used, particularly in the afternoons, creating another traffic hazard. Travelers should be aware that police set up wire coils as roadblocks on some of the major roads, and these may be difficult to see at night.
There are only two forms of public inter-city travel: by bus and by a ferry operating between Djibouti City and the towns of Tadjoureh and Obock. The buses are poorly maintained, and their operators often drive erratically with little regard for passenger safety.
