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Djibouti City

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Djibouti City is the capital of the Republic of Djibouti.

Djibouti City in the 1970s at Place 27 June
Djibouti City in the 1970s at Place 27 June

It is located in the coastal Djibouti Region on the Gulf of Tadjoura. The city is a major commercial and administrative center for the country. Currently, it has a population of approximately 780,000 inhabitants. This number represents 73% of the entire population of the Republic of Djibouti. The city serves as a vital hub in the Horn of Africa.

The city's development was driven by its strategic location and maritime importance. In 1888, the French founded the settlement on a previously uninhabited stretch of coast. They leased this land from the local Somali and Afar Sultans. The French chose this specific site for its harbor accommodation. It was also closer to Harar than the existing settlement of Obock.

Djibouti City in 1895
Djibouti City in 1895

This location allowed the French to protect trade routes to Madagascar and Indochina. It served as a bridgehead for French interests in Africa and Asia.

As the settlement grew, it underwent several stages of expansion. In 1895, the population was only about 5,000 people. By the start of the 20th century, the population had reached 10,000. The construction of the Franco-Ethiopian Railway was a major turning point. This railway allowed Djibouti's commerce to eclipse the older caravan-based trade.

Nagad railway station
Nagad railway station

The city became a primary center for exports from southern Ethiopia and the Ogaden. This included trade items like Harari coffee and khat. The city also grew as merchants from Yemen, Egypt, Greece, Armenia, and Italy arrived to trade.

A significant event changed the physical structure of the harbor. On 12 July 1926, a Messageries Maritimes steamer named the Fontainebleau caught fire. The captain flooded the holds and ran the ship aground in the middle of the harbor.

The container terminal at the Port of Djibouti
The container terminal at the Port of Djibouti

Rather than removing the wreck, the city used it as a foundation. They connected the wreck to the Marabout plateau using a 700-meter jetty. This created a new deep-water port. The first phase of this project was completed in 1935, which increased both port and rail traffic.

The city also faced extreme hardship during the Second World War. In June 1940, Italian aircraft conducted airstrikes on the city and its port facilities. Following the defeat of France, the colony came under the control of the Vichy government. An Allied blockade of French Somaliland led to severe famine. Many people suffered from malnutrition-related diseases.

A-demonstration-in-Djibouti-Africa-1967-352022097779
A-demonstration-in-Djibouti-Africa-1967-352022097779

During this period, locals referred to the blockade as the "carmii." This was a term for a type of sorghum usually used for cattle.

After the war, the territory underwent several political changes. In 1946, Djibouti received the status of an overseas territory. In 1956, a government council was created to manage local affairs. The port facilities expanded to accommodate 2,000 ships per year. In 1948, a new currency called the Côte Française des Somalis was introduced. It was pegged to the gold standard. This period saw the city transition into a free port to compete with Aden.

The climate in Djibouti City is classified as arid.

SiestaBeach
SiestaBeach

It features very hot, rainless summers and warm, slightly wetter winters. The hot dry season lasts from May to October. During this time, temperatures routinely exceed 40 degrees Celsius. The cooler season occurs from November to April. Most annual precipitation falls during this winter period.

South Djibouti Beach
South Djibouti Beach

Sunshine is abundant, averaging eight to ten hours every day throughout the year. The city remains a vital link for global trade and regional administration.

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🖼️ Images & Media (20)
File:Djibouti City in 1895.jpg
Djibouti City in 1895.jpg
File:Photo of Djibouti in 1902.jpg
Photo of Djibouti in 1902.jpg
File:OlderDjibouticity.jpg
OlderDjibouticity.jpg
File:A-demonstration-in-Djibouti-Africa-1967-352022097779.jpg
A-demonstration-in-Djibouti-Africa-1967-35...
File:Djibouti City in the 1970s at Place 27 June.jpg
Djibouti City in the 1970s at Place 27 June.jpg
File:Photo of Abdülhamid II Mosque.jpg
Photo of Abdülhamid II Mosque.jpg
File:National Assembly of Djibouti.jpg
National Assembly of Djibouti.jpg
File:Addsdjib.jpg
Addsdjib.jpg
File:Marderydjib.jpg
Marderydjib.jpg
File:The People's Palace, Djibouti City.jpg
The People's Palace, Djibouti City.jpg
File:Djibouti presidential palace.jpg
Djibouti presidential palace.jpg
File:Sabaibdjib.jpg
Sabaibdjib.jpg

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