Djibouti, France’s last colony, gains independence

Djibouti is a very small country located on the horn of Africa. It is so small that it has an estimated population of less than a million, one of the least populous in Africa. France, which had colonized the country, had named it French Somaliland.   On 27 June 1977, Djibouti gained independence from France. At the time, it was the last of France’s colonies in Africa. The country changed its name to Djibouti, after its biggest city, and it became known as the Republic of Djibouti. Hassan Gouled Aptidon became the country’s first president.