Djibouti Independence
The history of Djibouti has been discussed elsewhere. Djibouti was ruled in the nineteenth century by a Sultan, but by 1862 the French had started purchasing land there after signing a deal with Afar leaders. In 1884 the French formally annexed the territory during the 'Scramble for Africa' and in 1896 named it French Somalialand.
At the end of the Second World War the territory was declared a French Overseas Territory. In 1958 the French held a referendum in the territory to ascertain whether its people wanted to remain with France or join the soon to be independent Republic of Somalia.
In what was considered a rigged vote after many Somalians were ejected from Djibouti creating a stay with France outcome. Djibouti was then effectively told that it would lose its largely self governing status and become a French territory being ruled by the French Parliament.
Demands for independence increased after new electoral rules were passed in 1963, effectively abolishing direct representation in the French Parliament in exchange for a system of straight plurality vote based on lists submitted by political parties in seven designated districts within Djibouti.
President de Gaulle's visit in 1966 left him in no doubt as to the mood for independence and clamours for that change, against a backdrop of many other African nations becoming independent republics throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, a referendum was finally held in May 1977, with independence declared the following month. The above video shows often grainy images of the people's struggle for independence.
TAGS: Djibouti Independence, Djibouti Independence from France, Djibouti Independence Timeline, Djibouti Independence History, Djibouti Independence Struggle, Djibouti Independence Referendum