Djibouti

Selfie of a man with a camel int he background

Out of Eden Walk: Djibouti and the Red Sea

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.

Out of Eden Walk: Djibouti and 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'

US redeployment of troops to Somalia raises questions about 'strategic endgame'
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

Elusive Somali sengi documented in Djibouti by scientists after 50 years
A group of people pose for a photo

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

Djibouti’s ‘cosmopolitan musical sound’ captured in first-ever global album
Djibouti City port, sundown.

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

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

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.

Niger raid highlights US military's growing role in Africa
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

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.

China is working on the largest infrastructure endeavor in human history
Sunset in Lima

Delightfully bad tourism slogans from around the world

Nigeria's slogan sounds like Donald Trump wrote it in a tweet: "Good people, great nation."

Delightfully bad tourism slogans from around the world
Djibouti port

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

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.

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

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.

This American man and his family are caught on a forgotten front line of the global refugee crisis
U.S. President Barack Obama meets with President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh of Djibouti on May 5, 2014. Some Djiboutians say American ties to their country are holding back democratization.

The overthrow of Blaise Compaoré sparks protests against Djibouti's leader

The protests that forced Burkina Faso's longtime ruler to step down are echoing on the other side of the continent, where young protesters in Djibouti are calling for their own leader to step down after 15 years. They face not only a repressive government, but its international supporters as well.

The overthrow of Blaise Compaoré sparks protests against Djibouti's leader
African migrants on the shore of Djibouti city at night, raising their phones in an attempt to capture an inexpensive signal from neighboring Somalia—a tenuous link to relatives abroad.

An image of African migrants calling home wins an international photo award

American photographer John Stanmeyer won the World Press Photo of the Year award for his picture of African migrants in Djibouti holding their cellphones to the sky, seeking a better reception signal.

An image of African migrants calling home wins an international photo award

At this Christmas, Santa will be looking somewhere new for many refugees

NORAD started tracking Santa by accident, when a phone number was misprinted in a Colorado Springs newspaper. Now the Santa tracking has turned into a digital empire that will delight thousands, perhaps millions, of children around the world on Christmas Eve.

At this Christmas, Santa will be looking somewhere new for many refugees

U.S. Extends Closure of Some Embassies & Diplomatic Posts

U.S. Extends Closure of Some Embassies & Diplomatic Posts

U.S. Navy SEALs conduct hostage rescue in Somalia

President Barack Obama on Wednesday announced that the military had successfully completed a hostage rescue in a remote area of Somalia, where the American and Dane had been taken hostage.

U.S. Navy SEALs conduct hostage rescue in Somalia