June 27: Independence Day in Djibouti
Prayer Idea
Pray for the people and government of Djibouti.
Map by Peter Hermes Furian / Shutterstock.com.
History Note
Djibouti is small nation of one million people located in the Horn of Africa, where it borders Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia. French and Arabic are the official languages, and nearly all Djiboutians are Muslim.
During the 19th century, France took control of the area, which was located between Italian-controlled Eritrea and British-controlled Somaliland. Known for decades as French Somaliland, it became the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas in 1967. The Afars and the Issas are two ethnic groups in the region.
On June 27, 1977, the country secured independence from France and took the name Djibouti, which was the name of the largest city. The people of Djibouti celebrate Independence Day with cultural activities, particularly music and dance.
Because neighboring Ethiopia is landlocked, Djibouti handles nearly all of Ethiopia’s imports from and exports to the rest of the world.
This photo shows people in Djibouti celebrating their 40th Independence Day in 2017. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Joe Harwood.
Learn More
This video shows footage from June 27, 1977, when Djibouti gained independence from France.
Find other resources at Homeschool History.
