How did ethnic tensions affect Djibouti’s early years of independence?

Following its independence in 1977, Djibouti sought to manage internal stability by balancing power between the Afar and Issa ethnic groups. While the government utilized a formula for ministry appointments to maintain this balance, ethnic tensions were clearly evident during the early years of self-government.12

By 1978, the state had already experienced two cabinet crises and changes in the prime minister position, with ousted officials often accused of fomenting ethnic strife. Although the banning of opposition parties in 1981 minimized overt ethnic conflict in the political arena, the Issa maintained a clear predominance within the civil service, the armed forces, and the ruling political party. This underlying imbalance was only partially masked, leading to occasional tremors of social unrest that challenged the nation's superficial calm.12