Where is jabooty africa

What makes this horn of Africa nation attractive to global military powers? Djibouti's status as a model of stability in an otherwise volatile region is one of its greatest assets. It lies on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a gateway to the Suez Canal, which is one of the world's busiest shipping routes.

Djibouti also provides a vital port for landlocked neighbour Ethiopia, even more important now as a railway between both their capitals is completed. Chinese-led infrastructure projects - including the construction of air and maritime ports - are present here, just as they are elsewhere in Africa. But it is Djibouti's proximity to restive regions in Africa and the Middle East that makes it significant for the location of bases for the military superpowers.

Somalia, to the south-east, has been a hotbed of unrest - of global implications - for years, with sea pirates and al-Shabab militants posing a serious threat to the region.

Yemen, currently in conflict, is less than 20 miles north-east across the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait - also an easy pathway into the Middle East without having to be based there. These crises have warranted international responses and the need for military bases nearby. However, the country can also suffer from flash flooding, a consequence of cyclonic activity in the Indian Ocean.

With just 0. As such, there is little irrigated land in the country. As of , the latest year for which statistics are available, just Limited arable land and potable water, as well as increasing desertification, remain significant challenges for the country. Despite these difficulties, Djibouti also has some natural advantages. In terms of metals and minerals, it contains deposits of gold, granite, limestone and marble. In terms of energy, moves have been towards petroleum exploration, while there is also potential for geothermal generation.

Djibouti is also well placed to become an important energy transit country and downstream location. Neighbouring Ethiopia has recently made new natural gas discoveries, and has refocused efforts on exploiting existing reserves. There are less than 1m Djiboutians. According to the World Bank estimates, the population reached , in The majority, more than , people, live in the capital, Djibouti city.

As this suggests, the country has a high urbanisation rate, with more than three-quarters of the population residing in urban centres. The population growth rate of 2. Due to its geographic location at the Gulf of Aden, Djibouti is integral to international shipping, and as such, derives a large percentage of its GDP from its ports.

Another consequence of its geographic location guarding the approach to the Suez Canal is that Djibouti houses foreign military assets from the United States of America, France and China that provide security for international shipping interests. The official languages of Djibouti are French and Arabic. This is as a result of the Republic formerly being part of a French colony , French Somaliland. Djibouti's media environment is dominated by the state.

There are no private TV or radio stations and the government owns the main newspaper and the national broadcaster Radiodiffusion-Television de Djibouti RTD. Reporters Without Borders says local journalists "live in fear". The few opposition media outlets are based outside the country. Some key dates in Djibouti's history:.

Djibouti election: What you need to know. Government of Djibouti. UN news about Djibouti.