Djibouti Franc
Djibouti uses the franc as its currency. The franc is then sub-divided into 100 centimes, as per the other franc currencies. In order to differentiate it from other franc currencies, the Djibouti franc is recognised by the letters DJF. It is issued by the Djibouti Central Bank (Banque Centrale de Djibouti).
As coins it is issued in francs only (the centime has been obsolete for some time). Coins issued are francs of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 francs. Notes are issued as 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 francs.
Although Djibouti used to be a French colony, it does not peg its currency to the euro, but instead chooses to peg it to the US dollar.
History of the Djibouti Franc
The franc (in terms of the French franc) began to be circulated in Djibouti as early as 1884, when it was designated as a protectorate under the auspices of the French. At this stage, although French francs were circulated, Indian rupees were also in use as well as the quaintly named Maria Theresa thaler, which was a coin originally in use in different countries from the late 18th Century.
It was not until 1948 that currency specifically for use in Djibouti was circulated. These coins were named the 'Cote Francaise des Somalis' but in 1949, the independent Djibouti franc came into being and at this stage it was pegged to the US dollar, although it may have made more sense to peg it to the French franc. However, at this stage, the French franc was threatened with devaluation, so it was a purely economic decision and one that was made to try and ensure stability for the currency.
Notes were issued as early as 1952 and the Djibouti franc was officially born.
The Country
Djibouti is not a known destination to the vast majority of people. It is a very poor country, which borders Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia, which means that it is also dependent on them for how stable it is and these countries often experience significant problems.
Djibouti is a poor country, with little in terms of industry or being able to manufacture goods to export. The rainfall is exceptionally low, it is also very hot in the summer time, with drought a constant fear and when drought happens, the country is obviously unable to provide water for its own people, let alone strangers.
It does act as a port for international trade, but this is really the extent of its economic activity. It is not reliant on tourism, but is heavily reliant on foreign aid, without which the country would simply not survive. Around 70% of Djibouti people live in the capital, Djibouti. Those who do not live in the capital tend to be nomadic, herding their livestock in constant search of water and resources throughout the country. So this is far from a developed country. A very large part of the country is simply wasteland, which cannot be cultivated and there is a grinding poverty present in Djibouti, which shows no sign of being eased.
Up to 50% of the economically active members of the population are unemployed and of course state assistance is negligible, coming only through the distribution of aid that has been received from other countries.
Historically it has also faced a civil war and there has been long term problems caused by the sudden influx of refugees, particularly from Ethiopia and Somalia, when famine or conflict drives them from their homes.
All these factors combine to make Djibouti a destination that should be chosen only after careful consideration of the impact that your visit may have and whether you will be able to cope with an infrastructure that is not geared up to accommodating travellers. You should also check that food is not in short supply, prior to visiting, since resources in the country can be extremely tight and another mouth to feed and provide water for may be, at best insensitive, at worst, possibly irresponsible.
There are also some safety issues to be concerned with regard to the border with Eritrea. In 2008, governments issued travel warnings, which advised that travellers should not go to the border area between Djibouti and Eritrea. This is because Eritrean forces have actually crossed the border with Dijibouti and casualties have resulted from this. Whilst the dispute is between these two countries, the presence of foreign nationals may lead to kidnapping, being held hostage or simply injured/killed, since foreigners are not common and so they will be regarded as something of a trophy.
In addition, there are problems with regard to the Ethiopian border area. This area is classified as being 'highly militarised' which means that there may well be armed soldiers from either country in this area and the last thing that any foreign national wants is to be caught in the middle between two groups. The presence of foreigners may well act as a means of inflaming the situation.
No terrorist attacks have been carried out in Djibouti, but travellers are advised that threats of terrorism have been made and this, combined with the history of Djibouti and the fact that it is a Muslim country, means that there may well be some people in the country who do not look favourably on westerners. The terrorist risk is not high, but should not be ignored.
The final issue that you should give serious consideration to is the heat. Temperatures in the summer can become unbearable for those unused to temperatures in the region of 45°. Added to this, it is not a developed country, so for those people who are reliant on air-conditioning everywhere as well as a good infrastructure to provide facilities, then Djibouti will be a rude awakening.
The conditions can perhaps be summed up by the fact that the French Foreign Legion has a base in Djibouti, since it is extreme enough to train their soldiers in coping with inhospitable terrain. That shows just how inhospitable this area really is !
However, if the conditions are favourable and there is no risk of drought or famine and you are an intrepid explorer, who enjoys seeing life in the raw, as it were, then Djibouti undoubtedly will make an intensely interesting and exciting trip. The main thing to think about is whether or not your visit will be a drain on the country, or whether or not your impact will be minimal. If you are going to visit, but cannot cope well with severely high temperatures or with very basic facilities, then it is probably better not to visit, but if you are the kind of traveller who is resourceful, will simply make the best of whatever happens and enjoys meeting people who are different culturally and socially, then yes, this could be an ideal location.
Getting Hold of Francs
Since this is such a poor and underdeveloped country, it is not really possible to be able to use credit cards. In Djibouti, you will find that some (but not all) of the bigger, international hotels may well accept credit cards, but you should take cash, as well as travellers cheques to ensure that you have enough cash to keep you going. Banks are really limited to Djibouti, so do not assume that there will be banks in all towns and villages, since even if there is a bank, they may not be able to do a foreign exchange.
In Djibouti there are also plenty of bureaux de change, where you can easily exchange money and unlike the banks, these are open all day (banks tend to have quite irregular opening times). Banks are also closed on Fridays, because this is a Muslim country.
Note if you are travelling from the UK, that you will not be able to take money in the form of British pounds. Take travellers cheques in euros or US dollars, not in British sterling, since you will be unlikely to be able to exchange these. Or if you can the hassle involved will simply make you wish that you had taken euros.
Mostly this is a cash society and people will expect cash, so make sure that you change enough to keep you going.
Spending Your Djibouti Francs
This is a 3rd World Country and as such prices are very low. In the bigger hotels, there is a marked increase in prices, but basically you will get facilities that you simply would not get in other more basic hotels, which are really for internal use or for people who have stopped off in Djibouti as its role as a major port.
Since the country is predominantly Muslim, then whilst food may be plentiful in the bigger hotels, alcohol is not really available, apart from in these locations. Drinking is simply not part of the culture here and so nightlife is not bars and drinking, indeed the nightlife is much, much quieter.
There are lots of local markets with many individually crafted items for sale. These tend to have very low prices, but the goods are of a very high standard, so are well worth a visit.
Overview
Djibouti is a country that really does have its fair share of problems and it is extremely dependent on foreign aid, but there is also a real dependence on rainfall, which means that practically overnight, the country can suddenly go from being a possible destination, to one that really should not be visited.
There are risks associated with the border, but if you are in Djibouti (the city) or in the countryside, the people tend to be warm, friendly and very hospitable, since they do not tend to see many visitors. Generally, although this is a Muslim country, they are not anti-western, but rather more curious about people who are not from Africa.
So it is a real cultural experience to travel to Djibouti and one that is full of exciting sights, smells and intense heat at times. Not a destination for those who like all the comforts of home abroad, but for the resilient and experienced traveller a destination that is far, far removed from being a tourist 'hotspot'.
For up to date travel information, please visit your governments foreign office website, or a website such as www.travel.state.gov/travel so that you can check whether this area is a safe destination.
I don’t think I had ever heard of Djibouti before reading this article. While it was interesting I can see why no one would want to go there. It isn’t a tourist place and it doesn’t seem to have anything to offer in this sense. I felt quite sorry for the people who live there as it seems they have a lot to contend with, although I suppose perhaps they are used to it, as harsh as that seems.
When I read about such a country I do wonder what the long term outlook for such a place is. Will it get even worse over time or will things gradually improve? I suppose it depends on whether you are a pessimist or an optimist.
— CDixon · May 25, 09:24 PM · #