How did Djibouti maintain neutrality between Ethiopia and Somalia after independence?

Following its independence in 1977, Djibouti successfully maintained neutrality between its larger neighbors, Ethiopia and Somalia, by adopting a consistent policy of non-alignment in regional affairs.12

Key aspects of this approach included:

• Rejection of Unification: No major Djiboutian political leader, whether Afar or Issa, supported unification with either neighboring state, effectively preventing the country from becoming a pawn in regional power struggles.12
• Diplomatic Treaties: The government entered into friendship treaties with both Ethiopia and Somalia.12
• Refusal to Support Armed Groups: Djibouti maintained its neutral stance by refusing to provide support to any armed groups that opposed the regimes of its neighbors.12
• Mediation: The nation actively fostered peace by hosting negotiations between the leaders of Ethiopia and Somalia, which ultimately led to a series of accords in 1988.12

This external balance was mirrored internally by a power-sharing formula in government appointments, intended to maintain stability between the country's primary ethnic groups.12