Djiboutihahah

 DJIBOUTI  **BACKGROUND:** The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in 1977. Hassan Gouled APTIDON installed an authoritarian one-party state and proceeded to serve as p resident until 1999. Unrest among the Afars minority during the 1990s led to a civil war that ended in 2001 following the conclusion of a peace accord between Afar rebels and the Issa-dominated government. In 1999, Djibouti's first multi-party presidential elections resulted in the election of Ismail Omar GUELLEH; he was re-elected to a second and final term in 2005. Djibouti occupies a strategic geographic location at the mouth of the Red Sea and serves as an important transshipment location for goods entering and leaving the east African highlands. The present leadership favors close ties to France, which maintains a significant military presence in the country, but also has strong ties with the US. Djibouti hosts the only US military base in sub-Saharan Africa and is a front-line state in the global war on terrorism.

Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somaliaw.
 * LOCATION:**

total: 23,200 sq km country comparison to the world: 157 land: 23,180 sq km water: 20 sq km Borders: ** Djibouti borders around Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia.
 * AREA:**

**Climate:** Desert, Torrid and Dry.


 * Ethnic Groups:** Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (includes French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian


 * Government type:** Republic


 * Sufferage:** 18 years of age; universal
 * GDP per capita:** $3,700 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 160


 * Agricultural products:** fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels, animal hides


 * Imports Commodities:** foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products


 * Desription of Flag:** two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red five-pointed star in the center


 * Religions:** Muslim 94%, Christian 6%


 * Terrain:** coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains


 * Natural Resources:** geothermal areas, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum

arable land: 0.04% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.96% (2005)
 * Land Use:**


 * Natural Hazards:** earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods


 * Enviromental issues:** inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land; desertification; endangered species


 * Languages:** French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar


 * Capital:** Djibouti


 * Leader:** Ismail Omar Guelleh


 * Military Expenditures:** 3.8% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 33


 * Industries:** construction, agricultural processing


 * Currency/Exchange Rate:** Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar - 177.71 (2007), 174.75 (2006), 177.72 (2005), 177.72 (2004), 177.72 (2003)

8.4% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 11
 * Education:**

516,055 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 169
 * Population:**

1.903% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 66
 * Population growth rate:**


 * Net Migration Rate:** NA (2009 est.)

total: 97.51 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 12 male: 104.98 deaths/1,000 live births female: 89.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
 * Infant Mortality Rate:**


 * Life expectancy:**total population: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">43.37 years country comparison to the world: <span class="category_data">217 male: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">41.89 years female: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">44.89 years (2009 est.)


 * Literacy:**definition: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">age 15 and over can read and write total population: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">67.9% male: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">78% female: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">58.4% (2003 est.)


 * Independence:** 27 June 1977 (from France)


 * Economic Overview:** The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in the Horn of Africa. Two-thirds of Djibouti's inhabitants live in the capital city; the remainder are mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port for the region and an international transshipment and refueling center. Imports and exports from landlocked neighbor Ethiopia represent 85% of port activity at Djibouti's container terminal. Djibouti has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to help support its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment rate of nearly 60% in urban areas continues to be a major problem. While inflation is not a concern, due to the fixed tie of the Djiboutian franc to the US dollar, the artificially high value of the Djiboutian franc adversely affects Djibouti's balance of payments. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% between 1999 and 2006 because of recession, civil war, and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). Faced with a multitude of economic difficulties, the government has fallen in arrears on long-term external debt and has been strugglin[[image:http://www.laurenhaworth.com/photo_gallery/Djibouti/images/Djibouti1_011.jpg width="285" height="191" align="right" caption="RURAL CITY"]]g to meet the stipulations of foreign aid donors.

59% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: <span class="category_data">194 //note:// <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">data are for urban areas, 83% in rural areas
 * Unemployment:**


 * Exports (commodities):** reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)


 * ILLICIT drugs:** Mandrax, Hashish, Methaqualone, Cocaine


 * Internet Access:** 11,000 (2006) country comparison to the world: <span class="category_data">196


 * Tourism:** includes traveling in the country of Djibouti, which is situated in the eastern regions of the African continent with Ethiopia and Eritrea as its bordering regions. The best places to visit on a travel to Djibouti, are the arid expanses of the rocks, the sunken plains and the salty lakes, its ravines, the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. Tourism in Djibouti bases itself on the serene and quite beaches of Djibouti which are the perfect place to unwind and experience the beauty of nature at its best.

Except for the French people, visitors from all other countries require visas to travel to the country. The Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport offers regular domestic as well as international flight services across the globe, which helps a lot in **Djibouti Travel and Tourism**. There is also a railway station at Djibouti, which is well connected to Ethiopia via train services. Djibouti Travel and Tourism can also be arranged via roadways by using either cars or buses or even taxis. Ferry services can also be availed from L'Escale in Djibouti, which have proved to be a boon for Djibouti Travel and Tourism.

The best place for accommodation at Djibouti is the Djibouti Sheraton which is located in a private island and offers the best ambiance to relax in the luxury and comfort of a fantastic beach resort.


 * TIMELINE of DJIBOUTI **

**Hassan Gouled Aptidon, Djibouti's first president**



**Djibutian women perform a traditional Afar dance** **US Marines in Djibouti**

International Court of Justice rules that France is not obliged to share information it gathered in investigation into the 1995 death of French judge Bernard Borrel.
 * 2000** March - Former Prime Minister and leader of the radical faction of FRUD Ahmed Dini returns to Djibouti after nine years in exile.
 * 2000** December - Coup attempt said to have been masterminded by sacked police chief General Yacin Yabeh Galab fails and Yacin charged with conspiracy and breaching state security.
 * 2002** January - German warships and 1,000 sailors arrive in Djibouti to patrol shipping lanes in Red Sea area, in support of US actions in Afghanistan.
 * 2002** September - Djibouti says it won't be used as a base for attacks against another country in the region. Some 900 US troops set up camp in support of US-led war on terror.
 * 2003** January - Coalition supporting President Ismael Omar Gelleh - the Union for Presidential Majority - wins Djibouti's first free multi-party elections since independence in 1977.
 * Anti-immigrant drive**
 * 2003** September - Government begins drive to detain and expel illegal immigrants, thought to make up 15% of population.
 * 2005** April - Presidential elections: Incumbent President Guelleh is the sole candidate.
 * 2006** May - First human bird flu case in sub-Saharan Africa confirmed in Djibouti.
 * 2006** November - A UN report says several countries, including Djibouti, have flouted a 1992 arms embargo on Somalia by supplying the rival Islamist administration in Mogadishu. Djibouti denies the allegation.
 * 2007** March-April - Drought declared in some inland areas. United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) says some 53,000 people could go without food rations unless funding is found.
 * Borrel probe**
 * 2008** January - Djibouti begins legal battle with France in the International Court of Justice in The Hague over the probe into the death of French judge Bernard Borrel.
 * 2008** February - Ruling coalition wins all 65 seats in parliamentary elections which are boycotted by the three main opposition parties.
 * 2008** June - Fighting breaks out between Djiboutian and Eritrean troops in the disputed Ras Doumeira border area. At least nine Djiboutian soldiers killed. US condemns Eritrean "aggression" but Eritrea denies launching an attack.

This seminar provided inspectors the opportunity to practice audit and control standards learned over the course of the training. The trainer, Mr. Thomas O'Connor, is an expert in auditing federal regulatory agencies. He has extensive experience in designing courses in public accounting, financial reporting, and auditing standards and has worked for the American Government Accountability Office, as well as for USAID. Ms Anne-Marie Auger, an expert in organizational audit and strategic planning who previously collaborated with the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, assisted in the presentation of the code of ethics and standards of conduct for auditors. Both were recruited by Management Systems International, the implementing partner for USAID’s anti-corruption program in Djibouti. During this training, the inspectors learned best practices for transmitting audit reports, monitoring and evaluating recommendations, and detecting abnormalities.
 * CURENT EVENT:** The Inspector General, Mr. Hassan Issa, and Mrs. Stephanie Funk, Representative of USAID, closed a week-long seminar on standards and best practices for audit and control by presenting certificates of completion to the Inspectors.

__http://djibouti.usembassy.gov/__ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[] [] []
 * WORK CITED:**