DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN HOLY SEE AND DJIBOUTI

VATICAN CITY, MAY 20, 2000 (VIS) - A communique published this morning announced that "the Holy See and the Republic of Djibouti, desirous of promoting bonds of friendship, have decided of common accord to establish diplomatic relations at the level of apostolic nunciature on the part of the Holy See and of embassy on the part of the Republic of Djibouti."

This east African nation has been independent since 1977. It has 623,000 inhabitants, divided into two ethnic groups: the Issa (Somalians), who are the majority, and the Afar, who number 155,000. Djibouti is 96 percent Sunni Muslim, 2 percent Catholic and 2 percent Protestant and Orthodox Christians. Formerly an apostolic prefecture, the diocese of Djibouti was erected on September 14, 1955. Bishop George Perron, O.F.M.Cap. is assisted by four priests who work in five parishes.

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