Djibouti

The present day Republic of Djibouti (جمهورية جيبوتي) came under French control in the 1880s during the European "Scramble for Africa," at which time it was known as French Somaliland. The nation finally gained its independence from France in 1977. Djibouti was involved in a civil war between 1991 and 1994, when the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD) - an ethnic Afar rebel group - mounted a military operation against the government in response to a lack of Afar representation in government. The nation also clashed briefly with Eritrea over a border conflict in 1996, and again in 2008.

With 11,000 active duty personnal, the Djibouti National Army is responsible for the external security of the nation.

Camouflage Patterns of Djibouti

• During the 1970s and 1980s, some personnel of the Djibouti National Army wore a copy of the French tenue de leópard or lizard pattern camouflage. The uniform was worn by a Parachute Company, and possibly other units.

• Since the 1990s, Djiboutian Airborne troops have worn a copy of thte US six-color chocolate chip camouflage pattern.

• A copy of the US tricolor desert pattern is also worn.

• Copies and variations of the m81 woodland pattern are also worn.

• Naval elements of the Djibouti National Army wear a woodland pattern with a predominantly green or blue colorway.