DJIBOUTI

A. THE COUNTRY

Djibouti is a desert country in the Horn of Africa, with possibly the
hottest average temperatures of any country on earth.  Government is a
multiparty semi-presidential republic but is dominated by one party, the
People’s Rally for Progress, which is controlled by the Somali Issa Dir
clan. The main opposition party has been boycotting elections.  Lack of
water, arable land and natural resources makes the country’s viability
dependent on French aid and the large French and American military
bases.  Its only major economic assets are the deep water ports of
Djibouti and status as a free trade zone, and rail link to Ethiopia.
The U.S. base is a huge source of income and employment, but
unemployment is still at 50-80%.  Consumption of high levels of qat
further stunts the workforce potential.

B. THE PEOPLE

In addition to unemployment and drug abuse, there is widespread famine
and rising urban issues of human trafficking and prostitution.
~61% are Somali, ~28% Afar (Danakil), ~8% Arab, ~3% Other (mostly
French).  This breakdown is only an estimate; it does not account for
the Ethiopian and Eritrean refugees and the very fluid Somali
population, including a refugee camp population.

C. RELIGIONS AND CHRISTIANITY

Islam is the religion of the state and of almost every native, but there
is considerable religious freedom for foreigners.  Proselytism is
strongly discouraged. The few Somali and Afar Christians are often
isolated and suffer many pressures from relatives.
The following statistics do not include the large U.S. military base.
~97.03% are Muslim, ~1.75% claim to be Christian, ~1.2% Non-religious,
~0.02% Hindu.
In the Christian category:
~0.81% are Orthodox, ~0.8% Catholic, ~0.09% Protestant, ~0.05%
Independent.
Evangelicals represent ~0.1% of the population.
Charismatics represent <0.1% of the population.

Donna Siemens

 

References:

http://

LIBYA

 A. THE COUNTRY

Libya is a country in north Africa that is mostly Sahara desert with

only a coastal Mediterranean strip and 2% arable land.

As a result of the 2011 Civil war, there are currently two entities

claiming to be the official government.  They are: The Tripoli-based

regime of Muammar Gaddafi, which controls the western half and calls the

country the “Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya” and,

the Benghazi-Based Transitional National Council which controls most of

the eastern half and calls the country the “Libyan Republic”.

Oil accounts for 95% of export income, but little of this wealth

trickles down to the masses.

 

B. THE PEOPLE

 

This fourth largest country in Africa is home to 6.5 million people.

Population data is difficult since undocumented foreign migrants may be

as much as 25% of Libya’s population.  All figures are estimates:

Arab and related 95.9% (Arab 76.4%, Berber 5.8%, Bedouin 13.7%)

Others 4.1%

The official language is Arabic.

 

C. RELIGION AND CHRISTIANITY

 

Sunni Islam is the state religion and the Gaddafi government has

endorsed a moderate form of Islam.  Evangelism of Libyan citizens is

illegal.  All faiths are free to worship at home, but meetings of more

than six people is illegal.  These laws are not often enforced.

All figures are approximations:

97.2% Muslim, 2.6% Christian, 0.3% Non-religious, 0.03% Buddhist, 0.01%

Hindu.  Or those in the Christian category:

1.19% Orthodox (Coptic and Greek), 1.22% Catholic, 0.14% Protestant,

0.01% Independent.

Evangelicals represent 0.3% and Charismatics 0.2%, and consist almost

exclusively to exiled people living in or in transit through Libya.

 

Donna Siemens

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org

Operation World, Jason Mandryk. Colorado Springs: Biblica Publishing, 2010.