Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III poses for a photo with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud during a bilateral exchange at Djiboutian presidential palace in Djibouti, Djibouti, Sept. 24, 2023. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza)
By Gary Raynaldo – DIPLOMATIC TIMES
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin met with the President of Djibouti Ismail Omar Guelleh in Djibouti Sunday on his first trip to Africa. The Pentagon boss also met with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud during a bilateral exchange at Djiboutian presidential palace. The leaders discussed the bilateral defense relationship and regional security issues, including Djiboutian support to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia in the fight against violent extremist organizations in the region, according to a readout from Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder. Secretary Austin thanked President Guelleh for his country’s leadership and for the longstanding and effective security partnership between the two nations. Austin on the continent of Africa September 23 and will stay until September 28 visiting Djibouti, Kenya, and Angola. Djibouti, a small east African nation not as well known as Kenya or Angola, is home to the United States’ only permanent military base on the continent, Camp Lemonnier. It is the primary base of operations for U.S. Africa Command in the Horn of Africa. Austin made a visit with US forces at Camp Lemonnier. The Horn is a hub for U.S. counterterrorism effort. U.S. special forces use the military base to conduct counter-terror operations against al-Shabab in neighboring Somalia. More than 5,000 service members are deployed at the base, in addition to Department of Defense civilians and contractors. The base is also situated along the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes that is the gateway from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. A former French colony, Djibouti also hosts a sizable French military presence. Military rival China also has a military base in the country. Kenyan troops currently serve in Somalia as part of the African Union Transition Mission.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III walks with Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh during a bilateral exchange at the presidential palace in Djibouti, Djibouti, Sept. 24, 2023. Austin met with Djiboutian officials to discuss ongoing military cooperation, regional security challenges, and opportunities for further collaboration. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza)
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III participates in a bilateral exchange with Djiboutian Minister of Defense Hassan Omar Mohamed Bourhan at the Djiboutian Air Force Base in Djibouti, Djibouti, Sept. 24, 2023. Austin met with Djiboutian officials to discuss ongoing military cooperation, regional security challenges, and opportunities for further collaboration. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza)
Secretary Austin also met with the Djibouti Minister of Defense Hassan Omar Mohamed Bourhan to discuss the advancement of bilateral security priorities in East Africa. In Nairobi, Secretary Austin is set to engage with Kenyan defense officials on “shared security interests” and counter-terrorism efforts. His visit to Luanda will focus on building stronger defense relations and exploring avenues for increased military-to-military cooperation between the U.S. and Angola.
