Government and Politics

Government and Politics of Djibouti

Government structure, leadership, capital, military, and national symbols of Djibouti.

Government Structure

Constitutional foundations, branches, parties, and leadership.

Government Type: republic
Administrative Divisions: 5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); 'Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura
Legal System: based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal adult
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
Executive Branch: chief of state: President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Aden Hassan AWED (since 27 March 2023) cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held on 9 April 2021 (next to be held in 2027); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH 97.4%
Legislative Branch: Unicameral National Assembly or Assemblée nationale (65 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve five-year terms) Elections: last held on 24 February 2023 (next to be held in 2028) Election results: percent of vote by coalition - UMP 71.3%, USN 28.7%; seats by coalition - UMP 58, USN 7; the Union pour la Majorité Présidentielle (UMP), the ruling coalition led by the People's Rally for Progress (RPP), retained a commanding majority in the assembly
Judicial Branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political Parties: Democratic National Party or PND [ADEN Robleh Awaleh]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Abdillahi HAMARITEH]; Djibouti Development Party or PDD [Mohamed Daoud CHEHEM]; Front pour la Restauration de l'Unite Democratique or FRUD [Ali Mohamed DAOUD]; People's Progress Assembly or RPP (governing party) [Ismail Omar GUELLEH]; Peoples Social Democratic Party or PPSD [Moumin Bahdon FARAH]; Republican Alliance for Democracy or ARD [Ahmed Dini AHMED]; Union for Democracy and Justice or UDJ [leader NA]
Head of State: President Ismail Omar GUELLEH
Head of Government: Prime Minister Aden Hassan AWED
Cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the president
Elections: last held on 24 February 2023 (next to be held in 2028)
Election Results: percent of vote by coalition - UMP 71.3%, USN 28.7%; seats by coalition - UMP 58, USN 7; the Union pour la Majorité Présidentielle (UMP), the ruling coalition led by the People's Rally for Progress (RPP), retained a commanding majority in the assembly
Constitution: multiparty constitution approved by referendum 4 September 1992
Independence: 27 June 1977 (from France)
National Holiday: Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
International Organization Participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.: chief of mission: Ambassador ROBLE Olhaye chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270 FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302
U.S. Diplomatic Representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Marguerita RAGSDALE embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti telephone: [253] 35 39 95 FAX: [253] 35 39 40

Capital City

Seat of government and political history.

Capital City: Djibouti
Location: 11 35 N, 43 09 E
Time Difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
History: The origin of the name is disputed; multiple descriptions, possibilities, and theories have been proposed

Embassy and Diplomatic Representation

Embassy location and contact details.

U.S. Embassy Djibouti Lotissement Haramous Lot # 350B Djibouti City, Republic of Djibouti Phone: 253-21-453-000 Email: ConsularDjibouti@State.gov

Military

Branches, service obligations, expenditures, and manpower.

Military Branches: Djibouti Armed Forces (Forces Armees Djiboutiennes, FAD): Djibouti National Army (includes Navy, Djiboutian Air Force (Force Aerienne Djiboutienne, FAD), National Gendarmerie (GN)
Service Age and Obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; 16-25 years of age for voluntary military training; no conscription

National Symbols

Flag, anthem, and other symbols of national identity.

National Flag

Flag Symbolism: 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
Flag History: Blue stands for the sea and the sky, green is for the earth and white is for peace. Green and blue are also the colors of the two main population groups, the Afars and Issas. The red star recalls the stuggle for independence and is a symbol of unity.
Date of Adoption: 27 June 1977

National Anthem

Anthem Lyrics: Djibouti Somali Transliteration Hinjinne u sara kaca Calankaan harraad iyo Haydaar u mudateen. Hir cagaarku qariyayiyo Habkay samadu tahayoo Xiddig dhi igleh hoorshoo Caddaan lagu hadheeyaay. Maxaa haybad kugu yaal!
Anthem Lyrics (English): Arise with strength; For we have raised our flag, The flag which has cost us dear With extremes of thirst and pain. Our flag, whose colours are the everlasting green of the earth, The blue of the sky, and white, the colour of peace; And in the centre the red star of blood. Oh flag of ours, what a glorious sight!
Anthem History: The national anthem was adopted upon independence from France in 1977. The words are by Aden Elmi and the melody is by Abdi Robleh.

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