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Djibouti

Selfie of a man with a camel int he background

Out of Eden Walk: Djibouti and the Red Sea

Out of Eden Walk

In early 2013, National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek began an epic walk, following the path of the first human migration out of Africa about 60,000 years ago. Host Carol Hills speaks with Salopek — now two-thirds through his global journey — about his experience walking through Djibouti and sailing through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the entrance to the Red Sea.

US Army soldiers assigned to the 1-186th Infantry Battalion, Task Force Guardian, Combined Joint Task Force—Horn of Africa, provide security for a 75th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron (EAS) C-130J Super Hercules during loading and unloading operations at a

US redeployment of troops to Somalia raises questions about ‘strategic endgame’

Military
A Somali sengi, which had not been seen by scientists for 50 years, pictured in the Assamo area of Djibouti.

Elusive Somali sengi documented in Djibouti by scientists after 50 years

Science
A group of people pose for a photo

Djibouti’s ‘cosmopolitan musical sound’ captured in first-ever global album

Music
Djibouti City port, sundown.

Living among superpower enemies: Just another day in the life of Djibouti locals

Global Politics
A US special forces soldier demonstrates how to detain a suspect during Flintlock 2014, a US-led international training mission for African militaries, in Diffa, Niger, March 4, 2014.

Niger raid highlights US military’s growing role in Africa

Conflict

The killing of four American special operations soldiers in Niger has highlighted the increasing role elite units are playing across Africa, where their mission is to counter the advances of a slew of jihadist movements, including al-Shabab in Somalia, ISIS affiliates in the Sahel region and Boko Haram in Nigeria.

Bulldozers level sand dredged from the sea at the "Colombo Port City" construction site

China is working on the largest infrastructure endeavor in human history

Economics

The Asian giant is opening its first overseas military base, in Djibouti. Pay attention to this theme: China’s future foreign military bases will almost certainly begin as appendages to commercial ports.

Sunset in Lima

Delightfully bad tourism slogans from around the world

Culture

Nigeria’s slogan sounds like Donald Trump wrote it in a tweet: “Good people, great nation.”

Djibouti port

China is building its first overseas military base in Djibouti — right next to a key US one

Conflict

Djibouti was once known for little more than French legionnaires, atrocious heat and the sordid nightlife of its seaside capital. Nowadays it’s viewed as offering some of the most prime military real estate on the planet.

Abdul holds his and his family's passports

This American man and his family are caught on a forgotten front line of the global refugee crisis

Conflict

The refugee crisis isn’t just in Europe, it’s also in Africa, and it’s affecting Americans. This is one American family’s tale of escape by boat from Yemen.