Q 01/05

Djibouti lies in which region of the continent?

A) The Maghreb

B) The Horn of Africa

C) The Sahel

D) The Great Lakes

Answer · why

B) The Horn of Africa

It borders Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea, with the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to the east.

Q 02/05

Djibouti gained independence in 1977 from which colonial power?

A) Italy

B) France

C) Britain

D) Portugal

Answer · why

B) France

It was France's last outpost on the African mainland, having been French Somaliland and then the Territory of the Afars and the Issas.

Q 03/05

The country takes its name from what?

A) A local sultan

B) Its capital city

C) A Somali clan

D) An Afar word for 'harbour'

Answer · why

B) Its capital city

The city itself was founded by the French in 1888 on land leased from Somali and Afar sultans; the name's own origin is disputed.

Q 04/05

From 1897 to 1967 the territory was known by what colonial name?

A) Obock Colony

B) French Eritrea

C) French Somaliland

D) Côte d'Afar

Answer · why

C) French Somaliland

It was then renamed the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas until independence.

Q 05/05

The strait beside Djibouti that separates the Gulf of Aden from the Red Sea is called what?

A) Gulf of Tadjoura

B) Strait of Hormuz

C) Strait of Tiran

D) Bab-el-Mandeb

Answer · why

D) Bab-el-Mandeb

It controls the approaches to the Suez Canal, which is why so many navies want a base nearby.