Romantic relationships in Djibouti

Dating in Djibouti mainly takes place within family, religious, and informal settings. There is no documented evidence of a uniform nationwide dating system or a state body for unmarried partnerships. An engagement, known as fiançailles, is also only a promise and not a marriage. It creates no maintenance obligation, a judge cannot compel the parties to marry, and rules on returning gifts may apply. No state registration or legal recognition has been documented for dating or non-marital cohabitation. A formal marriage is concluded before a religious marriage registrar. It requires the consent of both spouses, two honorable witnesses, a marriage gift, and the involvement of the woman’s guardian. A marriage involving a person under 18 requires the guardian’s consent; if the guardian refuses consent despite an ongoing relationship, a judge may authorize the marriage. The certified marriage certificate is the sole proof of marriage. The Population and Family Directorate (Direction de la Population et de la Famille) records the marriage, and the certificate is forwarded to the civil registrar within one month. Fees for registration were mentioned in a 2016/17 civil-status profile; a current tariff and possible fee exemptions have not been verified. A marriage concluded abroad is governed by the law of the relevant country or may be concluded before Djiboutian diplomatic or consular missions. For a specific assessment, the Tribunal of Personal Status (Tribunal de Statut Personnel), the responsible civil-status offices, or the Population and Family Directorate are suitable government contacts. The Tribunal of Personal Status is a court of first instance with national jurisdiction and is located in Djibouti City. Support services are more concentrated there than in rural and border areas. Under the 2002 Family Law, spouses owe each other respect, fidelity, assistance, and support. The husband bears responsibility for family maintenance according to his means; the wife may voluntarily contribute from her own assets. At the same time, the law assigns the husband certain leadership powers in the family and marriage and assigns the wife a duty of obedience; marital duties are also governed by local customs. The husband may not manage the wife’s separate property. In a serious conflict, the judge may appoint two mediators to attempt reconciliation and report on the outcome. For couples, state health policy focuses on modern contraception, sexual and reproductive health information for adolescents and adults, and HIV prevention. The counseling or treatment that can be reached depends on the location and facility. Religious and family expectations strongly shape relationships, but reliable nationwide data on dating norms are limited. Some community leaders present marriage as protection against premarital relationships, without this creating a uniform rule for all relationships. Violence in a romantic relationship or marriage includes physical, psychological, sexual, and economic violence, as well as threats, pressure, and deprivation of rights in private or public spaces under Law 66/AN/719/8ème L 2020. Affected people may receive legal information and counseling, legal aid, compensation, medical and psychological support, social assistance, and, where places are available, emergency shelter. The Ministry for Women and Family provides free assistance and information at 800-100-06; the Centre for Social Action for Women’s Empowerment (Centre d’Action Sociale pour l’Autonomisation des Femmes) can be reached at 21-36-05-30. A divorce takes place either before the religious marriage registrar or before the Tribunal of Personal Status. The registrar may record a consensual divorce. Before the court, the husband may apply for divorce; the wife may seek it because of harm suffered or proceed through a wife-initiated dissolution of marriage (Khulʿ). The court conducts a reconciliation attempt and may make interim decisions on residence, maintenance, custody, and contact. It sets maintenance and decides matters concerning marriage, divorce, custody, and support; an appeals chamber also exists. The child’s best interests govern custody, while contact with the other parent is generally maintained. The 2002 Family Law remains the documented official basis. In 2021, the Ministry of Justice reported on a working group to revise it, but an enacted replacement has not been verified. Where interpretations conflict between Arabic and French, the Arabic version prevails.