Northeast Africa, Gulf of Aden.

GMT + 3.

23,200 sq km (8958 sq miles).

721,000 (UN, 2005)

31.1 per sq km

Djibouti. Population: 575,100 (2005).

Djibouti is part of the African continent, bordered to the northeast and east by the Red Sea, the southeast by Somalia, the southwest by Ethiopia and to the north by Eritrea. The country is a barren strip of land around the Gulf of Tadjoura, varying in width from 20km (12 miles) to 90km (56 miles), with a coastline of 300km (188 miles), much of it white sandy beaches. Inland is semi-desert and desert, with thorn bushes, steppes and volcanic mountain ranges.

The President, who is head of state, is directly elected for a six-year term. The 65-member Chamber of Deputies, elected for a five-year term, comprises the legislature. Executive power is vested in the Council of Ministers and led by the Prime Minister, who is responsible to the President.

Republic. Gained independence from France in 1977. Head of State: President Ismail Omar Guelleh since 1999 (re-elected in 2005). Head of Government: Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita since 2001. Recent history: Ismail Omar Guelleh succeeded his uncle, Hasan Gouled Aptidon, in April 1999. He won the Presidential elections as the RPP candidate with 74 per cent of the vote. The RPP joined with FRUD to form a new ruling coalition, l'Union pour la Majorité Présidentielle (UMP). The UMP took 62.7 per cent of the votes but won all 65 seats in the Chamber of Deputies due to Djibouti's unusual first-past-the-post list system in the Parliamentary elections in January 2003. Presidential elections were held on 8 April 2005. Guelleh claimed 96.85 per cent of the vote. The opposition l'Union pour l'Alternative Démocratique (UAD) disputed the high turnout figure of 78.9 per cent and called for a boycott of the polls. Guelleh is now serving his second six-year term and will not be eligible to stand again.

The official languages are Arabic and French. Afar and Somali are spoken locally. English is spoken by hoteliers, taxi drivers and traders.

Predominantly Muslim (94 per cent) with Roman Catholic, Protestant and Greek Orthodox minorities.

Casual wear is widely acceptable, but visitors are reminded that Djibouti is a Muslim country and certain codes of behaviour should be observed.

220 volts AC, 50Hz.