U.S., Djibouti share longstanding security relationship- visiting Secretary of Defense

United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin indicated Sunday September 24 that Washington and Djibouti share a longstanding security relationship as he met the President of the African country Ismail Oguelleh.

Austin is on his first African tour. “It was great connecting with President Ismail Oguelleh during my first trip across as the Secretary of Defense. I look forward to continuing our efforts to further grow the U.S and Djibouti partnership,” the US official added. Austin also met president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and held talks with his Djibouti counterpart Hassan Omar Mohamed Bourhan on regional stability.

The head of the Pentagon visited US forces at Camp Lemonnier base in the country which he said is “critical” in the fight against violent extremism in the continent.

Djibouti, a small country in the Horn of Africa borders Somalia where the US administration backs the Government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud against al-Shabab fighters.

AFRICOM, the US forces for Africa, support the Somali army and militias with surgical airstrikes against the insurgents.
Washington brands al-Shabab the largest and most kinetically active al-Qaida network in the world.