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| 1. Djibouti |
| 1967 |
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| The Afars ethnic group (Ethiopian in origin) in the north, with French support, won a referendum to retain ties to France rather than seek independence, as wished by the Issas group (of Somali origin). | 1 |
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| 1977, June |
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| Continued Somali immigration resulted in pressure leading to independence under Pres. Hassan Gouled, of the Ligue Populaire Africaine pour l'Indépendence (LPAI). | 2 |
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| 1987 |
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| Pres. Gouled was elected to a third term. His rule also continued to be endorsed in legislative elections. Djibouti maintained close links with France. | 3 |
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| 1999, May 8 |
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| Hassan Gouled Aptidon, the head of state who had ruled the Djibouti government since its 1977 independence, stepped aside peacefully when Ishma’il Omar Gulleh was elected as the new president. | 4 |
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