Djibouti City

Djibouti City is the capital and largest city of Djibouti. Founded as a sea port in 1888 by France, it lies on a peninsula dividing the Gulf of Aden from the Gulf of Tadjoura. It is located at 11°36' North, 43°10' East (11.60, 43.1667).

Founded in 1888, the city became the national capital in 1891, succeeding Tadjourah. One travel writer describes Djibouti city as having an identity problem, "it is the sedentary capital of a nomadic people, an African city designed like a European settlement and a kind of French Hong Kong in the Red Sea."¹

Djibouti is home to a population of around 400,000 people, its planned centre being divided into the former European and African quarters. North west of the centre lies the port, used for international trade, fishing and by ferries to Obock and Tadjoura.

Features of Djibouti City include beaches on its eastern shore and the large Central Market, the national stadium, Presidential Palace and Hamouli Mosque. Trains run from the city to Addis Ababa, while it is also home to the Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport.