The Forgotten Country of Djibouti

720 Words3 Pages
The “Forgotten Country” of Djibouti The small country of Djibouti, that is often referred to as the “forgotten country” is plagued by social, economic and environmental factors. With a drug addiction that is accepted as a social norm to an opiate based drug called khat, the population has stifled itself. The poverty caused partly by a Civil War has left a devastating mark on the economy. The high mortality rate can be attributed to disease, lack of sanitation and readily available medicine. It is important to look at how a population’s addiction to drugs, poverty and high mortality rate can affect the overall success of a nation. In this essay, I will describe the country of Djibouti: their drug addiction, the poverty, and a high mortality rate. First, Djibouti is plagued with a drug addiction to an opiate based drug called Khat. This drug is a drought tolerant shrub that’s leaves contain a powerful stimulant. The leaves are traditionally chewed while held in the cheek of the user. Khat is popular at every level of society, from beggars on the street to the president of Djibouti; Ismail Omar Guelleh. The khat addiction also plays a huge role of desensitizing the entire population of Djibouti. This small country’s passionate affair with khat has elevated this dry, hot and predominately Muslim area on the Horn of Africa to more than just your average narco-state. Djibouti is not like any other country. Even Crockett 2 though Khat isn’t a narcotic, Djibouti is the only country in the world that fits the definition of a narco-society. This is a place where the drug is not a business but a way of life. Khat is literally the drug of choice for ninety-nine percent of the male Djibouti population. Second, the poverty in Djibouti is overwhelming. Djibouti endured a Civil War from 1991 to 1994 which had devastating effects on the economy. Djibouti’s main source of

More about The Forgotten Country of Djibouti

Open Document