Djibouti Civil Registration

Offices to Contact
Genealogy records are kept on the local level in Djibouti.

Issuing Authorities of Birth Records:


 * -Births in Djibouti City - Dar-Al Hanan (Telephone: +253 21 35 17 38) or Balbala Hospital (Telephone: +253 27 51 38 07)
 * -Commune de Boulaos - Issuing Authority, Mohamed Omar Ismail, Director
 * -Commune de Ras Dika, - Issuing Authority, Said Ibrahim Said, Director
 * -Commune de Balbala – Issuing Authority, Waberi Nour Eleyeh, Director
 * -Births elsewhere in Djibouti –Prefet de [of the respective region (Dikhil, Ali Sabieh, Tajourah, and Obock)]
 * -Births in a private Hospital – Clinic Affi – Issuing Authority: Mairie de Djibouti, Mme Fatouma Oasman Awaleh

Issuing Authorities of Marriage Records:


 * -Civil marriages performed prior to 1973 - Commandant du Cercle of the respective region (Dikhil, Ali Sabieth, Tajourah, Arta, Obock, and Djibouti City)
 * -Civil marriages performed after 1973 – Mairie de Djibouti
 * Djibouti, District de Djibouti
 * Telephone: +253 21 33 33 33
 * Email: [mailto:contact@justice.gouv.dj contact@justice.gouv.dj]
 * -Muslim marriages outside Djibouti City– Khadi of the region in which the marriage took place
 * -Muslim marriages within Djibouti City in different locations: 1st Arrondissement. 2nd Arrondissement, 3rd Arrondissement and 4th /5th Arrondissement

Issuing Authorities of Divorce Records:


 * -Civil divorces – Tribunal de Djibouti – Greffier en Chef
 * -Divorces of civil marriages are usually noted on the marriage certificate.
 * -Muslem divorces outside Djibouti City– Khadi of the region in which the divorce took place
 * -Muslem divorces inside Djibouti City – Tribunal du Charia

Issuing Authority for Death Records: Othman Hamad Mahamad, Officier d’Etat Civil

RefWorld, Djbouti, Sharia marriage certificate (acte charien de mariage)

Historical Background
For more than a thousand years, Islam has been the main religion, and about 94% of residents belong to it. The Somalis and Afar are the two largest ethnic groups. The Somalis are the majority of the population.

Coverage and Compliance
The legal marriage age is 18 years for both sexes. Those not yet 18 must have the consent of their guardians. If the guardians refuse to give consent and the two future spouses still want to marry, the marriage can be authorized by a judge.

Birth Records (Extrait d’Acte de Naissance)
About the child
 * Name of child
 * Date of birth
 * Date of registration
 * Place of birth
 * Place of registration
 * Gender

About the mother
 * Date of birth or age
 * Place of birth
 * Place of usual residence
 * Occupation

About the father
 * Date of birth or age
 * Place of birth
 * Place of usual residence
 * Occupation

Marriage Records (Acte de Charia de Marriage)
Notary officer, Judge Place of registration: Civil registration office, Place of celebration of the marriage


 * Names of bride and groom
 * Occupations
 * Ages
 * Dates and places of birth
 * Domiciles
 * Residences
 * Nationalities of each spouse
 * Names, professions, domiciles and nationalities of the father and mother
 * Declaration of the two witnesses that the future spouses are not in one of the cases of impediments provided for in the Family Code
 * Names of any former spouses of each of the spouses, including:
 * -Dates of death or divorce that led to the dissolution of their marriage
 * -Dates and place of the previous marriage


 * The consent or authorization required by law, if applicable as well as the mention of dowry (Family Code, article 8)

Death Records (Extrait d’Acte de Decès)

 * Name
 * Gender
 * Date of birth
 * Place of birth
 * Place of residence
 * Name of the spouse
 * Date of death
 * Place of death
 * Date of registration
 * Place of registration

Place of registration: Civil registrar’s office, Mayor’s office, Other district or local authority, Place of occurrence of the death