Djibouti

Capital: Djibouti City

Language: French, Arabic

Short History: Djibouti gained independence from France in 1977. The country has a mix of Somali and Afar cultures, with Islamic and French colonial influences.

Strategic Importance: Djibouti is often called the "Land of Military Bases". Due to its location at the southern entrance of the Red Sea near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait (not Strait of Hormuz), it controls access to the Suez Canal trade route.

It hosts military bases of several countries including the US, China, France, Japan, and Italy — making it one of the most geopolitically strategic points in the world.

Tourist Attractions: Lake Assal (saltiest lake in Africa), Day Forest National Park, Gulf of Tadjoura

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