Djibouti is located in Eastern Africa and can be divided into three main regions: the coastal plain, volcanic plateaus in the central and southern parts, and mountain ranges in the north. Djibouti gained independence from France on June 27, 1977 and serves as an important transshipment location for goods entering and leaving the East African highlands, bordering Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. The climate is extremely hot and dry from June to August and cooler from November to April.