Djibouti after Live Aid

Djibouti, which became independent from France in 1977, is located in the Horn of Africa, has a population of more than 800,000. Children here suffer as a result of poor medical treatment and legal care, a lack of immunisations and a shortage of clean water which leads to poor hygiene conditions.

The country has also been badly affected by persistent droughts and famines and has to import around 90% of its food. The chronic water shortages constantly destroy the harvests of small farmers and kill much of the livestock. It is estimated that around 70% of the population live below the nationally-established poverty line.

Djibouti has also suffered years of authoritarian rule and a civil war that raged for ten years. In 2001, the ten year conflict came to an end when the last remaining fractions of the Afar party (the "Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy") signed an agreement with the government in power.

Find out more about our work in Djibouti...

Time Line 

• 1977 The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas becomes independent as Djibouti with Hassan Gouled Aptidon as president.

• 1981 Djibouti becomes a one-party state - the People's Progress Assembly are the sole party.

• 1992 A constitution allowing for a limited multiparty system adopted; fighting erupts between government troops and the Afar Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD).

• 1994 The government and the main faction of FRUD sign a power-sharing agreement officially ending the civil war; however the radical faction of FRUD continues to fight.

• 2000 The government and the radical faction of FRUD sign a peace deal finally ending the civil war.

• 2002 The law controlling the number of parties allowed to compete with the ruling party ends, paving the way for actual multi-party politics.

• 2003 Coalition supporting President Ismael Omar Gelleh wins Djibouti's first free multi-party elections since independence in 1977.

• 2007 (March-April) Drought declared in some inland areas. United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) highlights that some 53,000 people could go hungry unless funding for food rations is found.

• 2011 SOS Children starts working in the city of Tadjourah.

• 2011 (February)Thousands protest demanding regime change.

• 2011 (April) Guelleh wins a third term as president; opposition boycott the election.

• 2011 (June-September) Horn of Africa hit by worst drought in 60 years

• 2012 SOS Children begin working with families in Tadjourah. The programme aims to empower parents to care for their children and identifies the most vulnerable children and protects them from losing the care of their families.

• 2013 Opposition groups contest parliamentary elections. They reject the result, which gave the incumbent party 49 of 65 seats, and plan protests. SOS Children establish a Children’s Village in Tadjourah (planned to open in March 2013).