Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA

Bilateral relations Switzerland–Djibouti

Djibouti is part of the Greater Horn of Africa, one of the five geographical priorities of the Sub-Saharan Africa Strategy 2021–24.

Key aspects of diplomatic relations

A former French colony, Djibouti gained independence on 27 June 1977. Switzerland recognised the fledgling state on the same day. Djibouti plays an important role as an East African port and is home to the headquarters of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional organisation that aims to promote development and stability.

Sub-Saharan Africa Strategy 2021–24 (PDF, 48 Pages, 3.1 MB, English)

Other languages

Treaty database

Cooperation in education, research and innovation

Researchers who are citizens of Djibouti can apply to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) for a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship.

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists (SERI)

Swiss nationals in Djibouti

According to statistics on the Swiss abroad, 11 Swiss citizens were living in Djibouti and 31 citizens of Djibouti were living in Switzerland at the end of 2022.