The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas (FTAI; French: Territoire français des Afars et des Issas) was the name given to present-day Djibouti between 1967 and 1977, while it was still an overseas territory of France. The area was formerly known as French Somaliland (Côte française des Somalis). Its name derives from the Afar people of Djibouti and the Somali Issa clan.
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👉 French Territory of the Afars and the Issas in the context of Independence Day (Djibouti)
Independence Day, observed annually on 27 June, is a national holiday in Djibouti. It marks the territory's declaration of independence from France. An independence referendum was held in the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas on 8 May 1977 alongside elections for a Constituent Assembly. Unlike previous plebiscites in 1958 and 1967, this time the territory became independent as Djibouti on 27 June 1977. Djibouti Independence Day is a national holiday, with workers given a day off. Independence Day is associated with military parades, fireworks, concerts, fairs, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history and culture of Djibouti.
The main Independence Day ceremony takes place in Djibouti City, where the national flag is hoisted at the Presidential palace and the president lays a wreath at the Monument of Martyrs, holds a military parade with different regiments of the Djiboutian Army in addition to the Navy, and Air Force with their bands march past in all their finery and official decorations which is broadcast nationwide on television and radio. The President of Djibouti who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Djiboutian Armed Forces and the Chief of the General Staff General Zakaria Cheikh Ibrahim, takes the salute. It is followed by the national anthem and live televised speech by the president. Usual celebratory events and festivities for the day include flag-raising ceremonies, parades, cultural events, and the playing of patriotic songs. A number of award ceremonies are often held on this day, and Djiboutians hoist the national flag atop their homes or display it prominently on their vehicles and attire, with shops decorating their windows in the blue, green, white and the red star of the Djiboutian flag. The Djiboutians diaspora organises cultural events to celebrate independence day.
In this Dossier
- ⭐ Core Definition: French Territory of the Afars and the Issas
- 👉 French Territory of the Afars and the Issas in the context of Independence Day (Djibouti)
- French Territory of the Afars and the Issas in the context of Djibouti
- French Territory of the Afars and the Issas in the context of French Somaliland
- French Territory of the Afars and the Issas in the context of 1977 Afars and Issas independence referendum
French Territory of the Afars and the Issas in the context of Djibouti
Djibouti, officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Somalia to the south, Ethiopia to the southwest, Eritrea in the north, and the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to the east. The country has an area of 23,200 km (8,958 sq mi).
In antiquity, the territory, together with Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somaliland, was part of the Land of Punt. Nearby Zeila, now in Somaliland, was the seat of the medieval Adal and Ifat Sultanates. In the late 19th century, the colony of French Somaliland was established after the ruling Dir, Somali, and Afar sultans signed treaties with the French, and its railroad to Dire Dawa (and later Addis Ababa) allowed it to quickly supersede Zeila as the port for southern Ethiopia and the Ogaden. It was renamed the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas in 1967. A decade later, the Djiboutian people voted for independence. This officially marked the establishment of the Republic of Djibouti, named after its capital city. The new state joined the United Nations in its first year. In the early 1990s, tensions over government representation led to armed conflict, which ended in a power-sharing agreement in 2000 between the ruling party and the opposition.
French Territory of the Afars and the Issas in the context of French Somaliland
French Somaliland (French: Côte française des Somalis, lit. 'French Coast of the Somalis', CFS; Somali: Xeebta Soomaaliyeed ee Faransiiska; Arabic: ساحل الصوماليين الفرنسي وتوابعه) was a French colony in the Horn of Africa. It existed between 1884 and 1967, at which point it became the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas. The Republic of Djibouti is its legal successor state.
French Territory of the Afars and the Issas in the context of 1977 Afars and Issas independence referendum
An independence referendum was held in the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas on 8 May 1977 alongside an election for a Constituent Assembly. Previous referendums were held in 1958 and 1967, which rejected independence. This referendum backed independence from France. The territory became independent as Djibouti on 27 June 1977.
The result is celebrated annually on Independence Day on 27 June.