Timeline: Djibouti

A chronology of key events:

825 - Islam introduced to the area.

French rule

1862 - France acquires the port of Obock.

Hassan Gouled Aptidon, Djibouti's first president An Issa Somali Elected in 1981 & 1987 Leader of the People's Progress Assembly

1888

- French colony of Somaliland established over the region.

1892 - Djibouti becomes capital of French Somaliland.

1897 - Ethiopia acquires parts of Djibouti after signing a treaty with France.

1917 - Railway connecting the port of Djibouti with the Ethiopian hinterland reaches Addis Ababa.

1946 - Djibouti made an overseas territory within the French Union with its own legislature and representation in the French parliament.

1958 - Djibouti votes to join the French Community.

Independence

1967 - Referendum takes place during which Afar people and Europeans vote to remain part of the French Community; French Somaliland renamed the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas.

Djibutian women perform a traditional Afar dance

1977

- The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas becomes independent as Djibouti with Hassan Gouled Aptidon as president.

1979 - People's Progress Assembly party set up with a view to uniting the Afar and Issa peoples.

1981 - Djibouti becomes a one-party state with the People's Progress Assembly as the sole party.

1992 - A constitution allowing for a limited multiparty system adopted; fighting erupts between government troops and the Afar Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD) in the northeast of the country.

Power-sharing agreement

1994 - The government and the main faction of FRUD sign a power-sharing agreement officially ending the civil war; the radical faction of FRUD continues to fight.

1995 - French Judge Bernard Borrel dies under mysterious circumstances in Djibouti. He was advising the Djibouti government, and reportedly investigating arms smuggling.

1999 - President Aptidon announces that he will not run in the presidential election; Ismael Omar Gelleh elected president.

2000 February - The government and the radical faction of FRUD sign a peace agreement finally putting an end to the civil war.

US Marines in Djibouti: Country occupies a strategic position 2003: War on terror Africa-style

2000

March - Former Prime Minister and leader of the radical faction of FRUD Ahmed Dini returns to Djibouti after nine years in exile.

2000 December - Coup attempt said to have been masterminded by sacked police chief General Yacin Yabeh Galab fails and Yacin charged with conspiracy and breaching state security.

2002 January - German warships and 1,000 sailors arrive in Djibouti to patrol shipping lanes in Red Sea area, in support of US actions in Afghanistan.

2002 September - 1992 law allowing only three other parties to compete with ruling party expires, paving way for full multi-party politics.

2002 September - Djibouti says it won't be used as a base for attacks against another country in the region. Some 900 US troops set up camp in support of US-led war on terror.

2003 January - Coalition supporting President Ismael Omar Gelleh - the Union for Presidential Majority - wins Djibouti's first free multi-party elections since independence in 1977.

Anti-immigrant drive

2003 September - Government begins drive to detain and expel illegal immigrants, thought to make up 15% of population.

2004 April - At least 50 people die in flooding in the capital.

2005 April - Presidential elections: Incumbent President Guelleh is the sole candidate.

2006 April - More than 90 passengers drown when a boat carrying hundreds of pilgrims capsizes shortly after leaving port.

2006 May - First human bird flu case in sub-Saharan Africa confirmed in Djibouti.

2006 November - A UN report says several countries, including Djibouti, have flouted a 1992 arms embargo on Somalia by supplying the rival Islamist administration in Mogadishu. Djibouti denies the allegation.

2007 March-April - Drought declared in some inland areas. United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) says some 53,000 people could go without food rations unless funding is found.

Borrel probe

2007 October - Mass protests against international arrest warrants issued in France for officials accused of blocking probe into 1995 death of French judge Bernard Borrel.

2008 January - Djibouti begins legal battle with France in the International Court of Justice in The Hague over the probe into the death of French judge Bernard Borrel.

2008 February - Ruling coalition wins all 65 seats in parliamentary elections which are boycotted by the three main opposition parties.

2008 June - Fighting breaks out between Djiboutian and Eritrean troops in the disputed Ras Doumeira border area. At least nine Djiboutian soldiers killed. US condemns Eritrean "aggression" but Eritrea denies launching an attack.

International Court of Justice rules that France is not obliged to share information it gathered in investigation into the 1995 death of French judge Bernard Borrel.

2009 April - UN Security Council says Eritrea has failed to fulfil its obligation to withdraw troops from disputed border area of Djibouti. Eritrea denies having troops on Djiboutian soil.