Djibouti Airmed Forces

The **Djibouti Airmed Forces** (**DJAF**) (, ) are the militar forces o Djibouti. Thay conseest o the **[[Djiboutian Airmy]]** an its sub-branches the Djibouti Air Force an Djiboutian Navy. As o 2018, the Djibouti Airmed Forces conseest of 20,470 (2018 est.) grund troops, which are diveedit intae seiveral regiments an battalions garrisoned in various auries throuoot the kintra. Djibouti Airmed Forces are an important player in the Bab-el-Mandeb an Reid Sea.

In 2015 General Zakaria Chiek Imbrahim wis *chief d'etat-major general* (chief o staff) o the *Forces Armees Djiboutiennes*. He assumed command in November 2013.

Djibouti haes awweys been a very active member in the African Union an the Arab League.

## History

Historically, Somali society accordit prestige tae the warrior (*waranle*) an rewardit militar prowess. Except for men o releegion (*wadaad*), who were few in number, aw Somali males were conseedert potential warriors.
Djibouti's mony Sultanates each maintained regular truips. In the early Middle Ages, the conquest o Shewa bi the Ifat Sultanate ignitit a rivalry for supremacy wi the Solomonic Dynasty.

Mojt seemilar battles wur focht atween the succeedin Sultanate o Adal an the Solomonids, wi baith sides achievin victory an sufferin defeat. During the protractit Ethiopian-Adal War (1529–1559), Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi defeatit seiveral Ethiopian Emperors an embarked on a conquest referred tae as the *Futuh Al-Habash* ("Conquest o Abyssinia"), which broocht three-quarters o Christian Abyssinie unner the pouer o the Muslim Adal Sultanate. Al-Ghazi's forces an thair Ottoman allees came close tae extinguishin the auncient Ethiopian kinrick, but the Abyssinians managed tae siccar the assistance o Cristóvão da Gama's Portuguese truips an maintain thair domain's autonomy. Houaniver, baith polities in the process exhaustit thair resoodcds an manpouer, which resultit in the contraction o baith pouees an chynged regional dynamics for centuries tae come.

The Ogaden War (13 Julie 1977 – 15 Mairch 1978) wis a conflict focht atween the Ethiopian govrenment an Somali govrenment. The Djibouti govrenment supportit Somalie wi militar intelligence. In a notable illustration o the naitur o Cauld War alliances, the Soviet Union switched frae supplying aid tae Somalie tae supportin Ethiopie, which haed previously been backed bi the Unitit States. This in turn promptit the U.S. tae later stairt supportin Somalie. The war endit when Somali forces retreatit back across the border an a truce wis declared.

The first war which involved the Djiboutian airmed forces wis the Djiboutian Ceevil War atween the Djiboutian govrenment, supportit bi Fraunce, an the Front for the Restoration o Unity an Democracy (*FRUD*). The war lastit frae 1991 tae 2001, awthou maist o the hostilities endit when the moderate factions o FRUD signed a peace treaty wi the govrenment efter sufferin an extensive militar setback when the govrenment forces capturit baith o the rebel-heikd territory. A radical group continued tae fecht the govrenment, but signed its ain peace treaty in 2001. The war endit in a govrenment victory, an FRUD became a poleetical pairty.

Djibouti haes focht in clashes agin Eritrea ower the Ras Doumeira peninsula, which baith kintras claim tae be unner thair sovereignty. The first clash occurred in 1996 efter a nearly twa-months staund-off. In 1999, a poleetical creesis occurred when baith sides accused ilk ither for supportin its enemies. In 2008, the kintras clashed again when Djibouti refused tae return Eritrean deserters an Eritrea respondit bi firin at the Djiboutian forces. In the follaein battles, some 44 Djiboutian truips an some estimatit 100 Eritreans wur killed.

In 2011, Djibouti truips an aw joined the African Union Mission tae Somalie.

As o 2013, the Djibouti Airmed Forces (DJAF) are componed o three branches: the Djibouti Naitional Airmy, which conseest o the Coastal Navy, the Djiboutian Air Force (Force Aerienne Djiboutienne, FAD), an the Naitional Gendarmerie (GN). The Airmy is by far the lairgest, follaed bi the Air Force and Navy. The Commander-in-Chief o the DJAF is the Preses of Djibouti an the Meenister o Defence owersees the DJAF on a day-tae-day basis.

## References