US Diplomatic and Military Operations in Horn of Africa

The Academy of Diplomacy posted on 20 September 2018 a 30-minute podcast titled "Capacity and Capability: US Diplomatic and Military Operations in the Horn of Africa" with former US ambassador to Djibouti, Thomas Kelly, and former commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, General Kurt Sonntag.

The podcast discusses US policy on key issues in the Horn of Africa and Yemen, US relations with other countries that have military bases in Djibouti, counterterrorism, anti-piracy, refugees, and trade.

Chinese Military Base in Djibouti

BreakingDefense.com posted on 27 March 2017 a piece titled "China Base Sparks 'Very Significant Security Concerns'" by Colin Clark.

The commander of US AFRICOM described China's "logistical support" facility in Djibouti as a "military base" and noted that it poses "operational security concerns" for the nearby American military base, Combined Joint Task Force--Horn of Africa.

Somalia: Assessing the Campaign Against Al-Shabaab

The Rand Corporation has just published a study titled "Counterterrorism and Counterinsurgency in Somalia: Assessing the Campaign Against Al-Shabaab" by Seth G. Jones, Andrew Liepman, and Nathan Chandler.

The study concluded that a tailored engagement strategy--which involved deploying a small number of U.S. special operations forces to conduct targeted strikes, provide intelligence, and build the capacity of local partner forces to conduct ground operations--was key in degrading al-Shabaab. Nevertheless, progress in Somalia is reversible in the absence of continued and consistent pressure and political, economic, and social reforms.

Two Members of Congress Take Aim at Djibouti President

Foreign Policy published on 16 February 2016 a piece titled "China Setting Up Shop Next to Key U.S. Drone Base in Africa" by Paul McLeary. 

It reports that two members of Congress sent a letter to the secretary of defense and secretary of state arguing that Washington should reconsider its support of the Ismail Omar Guelleh government in Djibouti.  One of the concerns expressed by the two members of Congress is the establishment by China of a military facility in Djibouti, which also hosts a large American military base. 

US Military Facilities in Africa

TomDispatch.com published on 17 November 2015 an analysis titled "America's Empire of African Bases" by Nick Turse.  It is a detailed account of AFRICOM's "cooperative security locations," "forward operating locations," and drone operations in Africa.  While some of these facilities may no longer be in use, it represents a much greater number of activities than is generally known.

Chinese Military Base in Djibouti?

The Hill published on 24 November 2015 an article titled "China's Military Makes Move into Africa" by Kristina Wong.  The article quotes U.S. Army General David Rodriguez, the commander of the U.S. Africa Command, as stating that China is building "a base in Djibouti, so that will be their first military location in Africa."  He added that China has signed a ten-year contract with Djibouti.

So far, there has been no public announcement of this facility although the president of Djibouti said in May 2015 that his government was negotiating with China over a base.  If this is, in fact, a full-fledged military base, it will be China's first base outside China since the establishment of the PRC in 1949.  It is important, however, to see the details of the agreement with Djibouti before describing this facility.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry subsequently announced that China is building a "logistical facility" in Djibouti for the resupply of Chinese Navy ships.  The New York Times reported this new development on 26 November 2015 in an article titled "China to Build Up Military Presence in Djibouti" by Jane Perlez. 

Mission to Evacuate Americans from Bor, South Sudan, Nearly Kills Rescuers

Air Force Magazine published in October 2015 a harrowing account titled "Blood over Bor" by Aaron M. U. Church.  It relates the unsuccessful effort using tilt-rotor CV-22 aircraft in December 2013 to evacuate Americans from the UN compound in Bor, South Sudan.  The aircraft came under intense fire, presumably from rebel forces opposed to the government in South Sudan.  Some 300 US personnel in Bor were evacuated the following day to Juba. 

US Drone Operations in Somalia

Foreign Policy published on 2 July 2015 an article titled "Exclusive: U.S. Operates Drones from Secret Bases in Somalia" by Ty McCormick.  The article offers new information on U.S. counterterrorism operations in Somalia, including a drone base in the southern port city of Kismayo. 

Air Traffic Control Dangers at US Base in Djibouti

The Washington Post published on 30 April 2015 an article titled "Chaos in Tower, Danger in Skies at Base in Africa" by Craig Whitlock.  The article details the dangers faced by U.S. personnel flying aircraft and drones in and out of the military base in Djibouti known as Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.  

U.S. Policy in the Horn of Africa

I presented a paper titled "U.S. Policy in the Horn of Africa" at the 13th International Conference of Africanists held in Moscow 27-30 May 2014.  The paper covers the development of U.S. relations with Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia/Somaliland, and Djibouti from World War II to the present. 

US Military Policy in Somalia and Counter Piracy

Amanda J. Dory, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs, testified on 8 October 2013 before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Somalia.  She discussed US military policy in the region going forward.

Dory commented that while al-Shabaab has been weakened as a conventional fighting force in Somalia, it "is still dangerous and capable of conducting sophisticated unconventional attacks to disrupt AMISOM operations and the Somali government."  She testified that "thanks to changes in business practices by the commercial maritime industry, and the presence of international naval forces, piracy is almost non-existent off the coast of Somalia.  The last successful hijacking of a major commercial ship was in May 2012."

Strategic Importance of Djibouti

Chatham House published in April 2013 a briefing paper titled "Djibouti: Changing Influence in the Horn's Strategic Hub" by David Styan, Birkbeck College, University of London. 

The study emphasized the expansion of the US Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) base in Djibouti, the reconfiguration of France's military presence and the establishment of Japanese and other military facilities there.  Djibouti has become an international maritime and military laboratory where new forms of cooperation are being developed.

Djibouti has accelerated plans for regional economic integration. Building on close ties with Ethiopia, existing port upgrades and electricity grid integration will be enhanced by the development of the northern port of Tadjourah.  These strategic and economic shifts have yet to be matched by internal political reforms, and growth needs to be linked to strategies for job creation and a renewal of domestic political legitimacy.

US Security Policy in East Africa and the Horn

World Politics Review published on 20 February 2013 an article I wrote titled "Walking the Line: U.S. Security Policy in East Africa and the Horn." The article looks at US policy that tries to balance support from Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya and Uganda for US counterterrorism and political issues in the region with a desire to see better human rights practices and more rapid democratization in all of these countries and Rwanda.