Djibouti is a strategically located country on the Horn of Africa, at the entrance to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. It gained independence from France in 1977 and is home to the capital city of Djibouti. The country is predominantly Muslim, with a population comprised mainly of Somali and Afar ethnic groups, speaking Afar and Somali, as well as the official languages of Arabic and French. Djibouti's economy is centered on its strategic location, with a significant portion of global trade passing through its waters, and it also hosts multiple international military bases.