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In-Depth Information
France and the emperor of Ethiopia then signed a pact designating Djibouti as the 'offi-
cial outlet of Ethiopian commerce'. This led to the construction of the Addis
Ababa-Djibouti City railway, which was of vital commercial importance until recently.
Throwing off the French Yoke
As early as 1949 there were a number of anticolonial demonstrations that were led by the
Issa Somalis, who were in favour of the reunification of the territories of Italian, British
and French Somaliland. Meanwhile, the Afars were in favour of continued French rule.
Major riots ensued, especially after the 1967 referendum, which produced a vote in fa-
vour of continued French rule - a vote achieved partly as a result of the arrest of opposi-
tion leaders and the massive expulsion of ethnic Somalis. After the referendum, the
colony's name was changed from French Somaliland to the French Territory of the Afars
and Issas.
In June 1977 the colony finally won its sovereignty from France. The country became
the Republic of Djibouti.
Small Country, Adroit Leaders
Despite continuous clan rivalries between the two main ethnic groups, Afars and Issas,
who have been jostling for power since the 1970s, Djibouti has learnt to exploit its stra-
tegic position.
When the Gulf War broke out in 1990, the country's president, Hassan Gouled Aptidon,
while appearing to oppose the military build-up in the Gulf, simultaneously allowed
France to increase its military presence in the country, as well as granting the Americans
and Italians access to the naval port. And he skilfully managed to retain the support of
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for the modernisation of Djibouti port. During the war between
Eritrea and Ethiopia in the 1990s, Djibouti port proved to be strategic when Ethiopia di-
verted its foreign trade through it (which it still does).
During the Second Gulf War in 2003, Djibouti continued to play an ambivalent role, al-
lowing a US presence in the country - to the great displeasure of France.
In 2006 the first phase of the Doraleh Project, which consists of a large-capacity oil ter-
minal about 8km east of the current seaport, was completed. Thanks to this megaproject,
partly financed by Dubai Port International, Djibouti aims to be the 'Dubai of East
Africa'.
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