The Republic of Djibouti covers a total area of 8,958 square miles and is home to an estimated 906,000 people. For administrative purposes, Djibouti is divided into five regions and one city.
The regions are further sub-divided into eleven districts. The regions and districts of Djibouti are administered directly from the country capital Djibouti City. Djibouti City is known locally as Ville de Djibouti. The five regions are:
- Ali Sabieh Region
- Arta Region
- Dikhil Region
- Obock Region
- Tadjourah Region
The districts of Djibouti include the following:
- Alaili Dadda
- Ali Sabieh
- As Eyla
- Balha
- Dikhil
- Djibouti
- Dorra
- Obock
- Randa
- Tadjourah
- Yoboki
Each region and even each district and any other smaller government are autonomous before the law.
Ali Sabieh Region is an administrative region of the east African country of Djibouti. The economy of the region is dependent on the quarrying and mining of pumice, clay and limestone.
Ali Sabieh Region has few tourist attractions. The stark barren beauty of the local Djibouti landscape is a treat for people, who visit the place to savor the desert landscape. The bare plains of Petit Bara and Grand Bara are a sight to remember for a long time. Other attractions of the Ali Sabieh Region include the pulsating local markets and its engaging witty traders. Extreme sports lovers may also try their hand at wind surfing in one of the many salt plains located in the vicinity of the area.
Arta Region is located in the southeastern part of the African country. A newly created administrative part, the Arta region was created after the end of the Civil war in Djibouti. The Civil War lasted for four years. Arta City is the capital of Arta Region. The city is sparsely populated and has a total population of 42,380.
Marine animals like turtles, dolphins, whale sharks, giant grouper, blue spotted rays and other varieties of sharks are found in the coastal waters, off the Arta region in Djibouti. The Arta Region gained international fame as the venue for the Somalia National Peace Conference or SNPC in the year 2000. The conference was held with the stated aim of bringing peace to the neighboring war ravaged African country of Somalia.
Dikhil region is an administrative division in Djibouti. The attractions of the region include the Lake Abbe. The Dikhil region of Djibouti is bordered by the Tadjourah region to the north, Ethiopia to the west and south. The Gulf of Tadjourah borders the Dikhil region of Djibouti on the northern side.
The economy of the Dikhil region is based on subsistence agriculture. Animals like sheep, goat and cattle are domesticated and traded. Severe malnutrition is a permanent problem with the general populace of the region. Infectious diseases are rampant. Acute malnutrition in the Dikhil region is high in more than 20% of the total population.
Obock Region is an administrative division in the east African country of Djibouti. The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden lies to the east of the Obock Region. The total population of Obock city is less than 9,000 individuals.
The topography of the region includes a number of salt-lakes. The region gained prominence as the location of the first French colony in east Africa. The French first came to Obock Region in the 19th century and set up a coal replenishing station for commercial steamships. Obock gained fame as a base for United States troops in the Gulf region.
The Tadjourah Region is an administrative division of the Republic of Djibouti located to the north of the east African country. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north-west, Ethiopia to the north. The southern part is bordered by the Dikhil and Arta Regions of Djibouti.
The capital city of the Tadjourah Region is Tadjourah. Due to the presence of a large number of white buildings in the city, the Tadjourah City has earned the title of the ‘white city’ of Djibouti. The clear coastal waters attract marine tourists from all over Africa and the world.