Department of Defense
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter arrived here today for meetings with senior Djiboutian and U.S. officials.
The deputy secretary will meet with Mahamoud Ali Youssouf,
Djibouti’s foreign minister, to demonstrate U.S. commitment to the two
countries’ relationship and to thank Djibouti for its partnership.
Carter will also hold a mission familiarization meeting with the new
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa commander, Army Brig. Gen.
Terry R. Ferrell, to discuss building partner capacity efforts in the
region. Ferrell assumed command of CJTF-HOA at the end of March.
While here, Carter is also scheduled to tour Camp Lemonnier and visit with civilians and service members assigned to CJTF-HOA.
“We really appreciate [Djibouti’s] contributions to the African Union
Mission in Somalia … the Djiboutians are on the frontlines and really
committing to this regional mission,” said Alice Friend, principal
director for African affairs, office of the secretary of defense.
Camp Lemonnier is a U.S. Navy expeditionary base, and the only enduring
U.S. military base located in Sub-Saharan Africa. It supports
operations geared toward building security, sovereignty, and stability
in the region.
CJTF-HOA operations are centered on
military-to-military engagements, civil-military operations, key leader
engagements and providing enabling support to partner nations.