US army general visits Djibouti months after Somalia trip

DJIBOUTI - In a bid to upscale security within the Horn of Africa, US Africa Command commander Gen. Stephen Townsend has returned to the region, almost four months after his trip to Kenya and Somalia.

On Thursday, Townsend held a meeting with Djibouti President Ismael Omar Guelleh and top government officials. It was his first high profile trip to Africa since the outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic, AFRICOM said in a statement.

Djibouti, a tiny nation at the Horn of Africa, is one of the strategic partners to the West and plays host to close to 7,000 US troops in Africa. It also hosts the French and Chinese military gave it's a strategic gateway to the rest of the world.

In his remarks, the top army general hailed Djibouti for its commitment in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants, an affiliate of Al-Qaida terrorists. The two groups have since been designated and are facing sanctions from the international community.

“Djibouti is a key partner, and we continue to work to strengthen our enduring partnership,” said Townsend. “Alongside other AMISOM partners, Djiboutian forces have shown their leadership by supporting the fight against al-Shabaab in Somalia.”

To help in the fight against Al-Shabaab in Somalia, Djibouti has close to 1,800 soldiers who are part of the African Union Mission in Somalia [AMISOM]. The troops are set to leave the war-torn nation in 2021 according to Somalia Transition Plan.

Townsend recognized Djibouti’s successful COVID-19 response and congratulated President Guelleh for his nation’s feat in containing the pandemic spread. The country has recorded over 4,000 positive cases but will around 30 fatalities so far.

“Djibouti’s effective response to the COVID pandemic is a model for other nations, particularly in Africa,” he said. “We are looking to help our Djiboutian partners by delivering critically needed medical equipment and supplies.”

In February, Townsend visited Kenya and Somalia were discussions about degrading Al-Shabaab militants took center stage. His trip came almost a month after the militants attacked Manda Airfield, a US Naval Base in Kenya.

And just days after the end of his trip, the US Africa Command announced the death of Bashir Qorgab, an Al-Shabaab operative who was linked to the Manda Airfield attack, in which three American citizens were killed. He had $5 million bounties on his head prior to his elimination.

Since then, the US has continued to launch sophisticated operations in collaboration with its allies in Somalia. Records indicate that the troops have waged over 40 airstrikes this year, killing close to 60 militants.

In April, the US Africa Command launched a quarterly report on civilian casualties where it admitted of killing two innocent civilians in February. Amnesty International maintains that the figures could be higher than reported.

The Multiple Department of Defense-funded humanitarian projects to include the delivery of COVID hygiene kits, beds, personal protective equipment, and laboratory supplies will be delivered to Djibouti this month, AFRICOM announced.

The U.S. delegation thanked the government of Djibouti for its support of critical and continued U.S. Africa Command logistics missions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While in Djibouti, Townsend also participated in a U.S.-Djibouti senior leader roundtable following the Change of Command at the Combined-Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa [CJTF-HOA], Camp Lemonnier.

The roundtable included the Djiboutian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Minister of Defense Hassan Omar Mohamed Burhan, and the Armed Forces of Djibouti Headquarters Chief of Staff, BG Taher Ali Mohamed.

Guelleh, who hosts tripartite summit from Sunday in Djibouti, thanked U.S. Africa Command leadership for the continued training and equipping of the Rapid Intervention Battalion. The RIB is the Djiboutian army’s elite military force, which the U.S. is in the process of training and equipping at the request of the Djiboutian government.

Several U.S. leaders also took part in the roundtable, including U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti, Larry E. André; U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Lapthe C. Flora, commander of CJTF-HOA; and U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Damian T. Donahoe, deputy commander of CJTF-HOA.

Gen. Townsend also met with service members from CJTF-HOA’s East Africa Response Force. The EARF provides a combat-ready rapid deployment capability to support crisis operations in the U.S. Africa Command Area of Responsibility.

GAROWE ONLINE