Obama admin signs a 10-year agreement with Djibouti to keep a military base that houses special forces and serves as a launching point for drones.

[Admin]

 

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration has finalized a 10-year agreement with Djibouti to keep U.S. troops at a military base in the East African nation that houses special forces and serves as a launching point for drones.

 

"This is a critical facility that we maintain in Djibouti," President Barack Obama said Monday during an Oval Office meeting with Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh. "We could not do it without the president's cooperation. We're grateful for him agreeing for a long-term presence there."

 

Djibouti, a tiny nation of less than 1 million people, has become a linchpin of U.S. anti-terrorism efforts in Africa and the Middle East. The U.S. military base Camp Lemonnier houses conventional forces, as well as special forces and aerial drones believed to be flown over Yemen and Somalia.

 

An administration official said the new $63 million per year lease would allow the U.S. to keep personnel and equipment at the camp for 10 more years. The agreement includes an option to extend the lease for an additional 10 years without renegotiating the terms, as well as a provision to extend for an additional 10 years beyond that at a renegotiated rate, according to the official.

 

The official insisted on anonymity because this person was not authorized to discuss the agreement publicly by name.

 

The terms of the lease indicate that the U.S. is likely to maintain a long-term military presence in Djibouti. Camp Lemonnier is the only U.S. base in sub-Saharan Africa.

 

Guelleh said his country's arrangement with U.S. forces is a sign of Djibouti's "support for international peace and for peace in our region as well."

 

Source: AP

http://www.somaliaonline.com/obama-admin-signs-a-10-year-agreement-with-djibouti-to-keep-a-military-base-that-houses-special-forces-and-serves-as-a-launching-point-for-drones/

[CidanSultan]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration has finalized a 10-year agreement with Djibouti to keep U.S. troops at a military base in the East African nation that houses special forces and serves as a launching point for drones.

 

"This is a critical facility that we maintain in Djibouti," President Barack Obama said Monday during an Oval Office meeting with Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh. "We could not do it without the president's cooperation. We're grateful for him agreeing for a long-term presence there."

 

Djibouti, a tiny nation of less than 1 million people, has become a linchpin of U.S. anti-terrorism efforts in Africa and the Middle East. The U.S. military base Camp Lemonnier houses conventional forces, as well as special forces and aerial drones believed to be flown over Yemen and Somalia.

 

An administration official said the new $63 million per year lease would allow the U.S. to keep personnel and equipment at the camp for 10 more years. The agreement includes an option to extend the lease for an additional 10 years without renegotiating the terms, as well as a provision to extend for an additional 10 years beyond that at a renegotiated rate, according to the official.

 

The official insisted on anonymity because this person was not authorized to discuss the agreement publicly by name.

 

The terms of the lease indicate that the U.S. is likely to maintain a long-term military presence in Djibouti. Camp Lemonnier is the only U.S. base in sub-Saharan Africa.

 

Guelleh said his country's arrangement with U.S. forces is a sign of Djibouti's "support for international peace and for peace in our region as well."

[CidanSultan]

From a French colony to dependency on French and American soldiers and bases. Half the population works on catering to these bases and Widespread abuse is common.

 

The one party state subjegates the people's desire for democratic change and the US government doesn't care because from the "muslim" country of Djibouti they can bomb Muslims all over Africa.

 

Djibouti the scavenger state...

 

With international recognition.

 

The shame of the muslim world

[CidanSultan]

 

 

[CidanSultan]

 

 

 

 

[Abu-Salman]

 

It's well known that Djibouti should switch to natives and english langages but implementation and ideal are two things: the best solution for learning in the initial years should be the mother tongue, Arabic and English should follow naturally with French phased out progressively; of course, this takes time and mounting quality concerns arise too (nobody minds Italian, French etc for some purposes such as courses funded by them and sorely needed; just like Mogadishu is restricting Italian but with minor exceptions).

 

Economic dependency is, however, more and more tenous with the Japanese, Dubai, Saudis, Chinese, Cubans and others contributing much more in terms of rents but also big energy or logistics infrastructure schemes, healthcare, small manufacturing, fishing, water & irrigation, property, finance etc.

The Chinese even promise planes and much stronger military aid in exchange of naval facilities, but so do Tokyo, Washington etc.

 

Generally, Somalis and their partners need more cooperation and patriotism to dispense with foreign military assistance and aid rather than fingers pointing and small minded rivalries.

[Tillamook]

Djibouti should look to Singapore for inspiration.

[galbeedi]

Ciidansuldaan, I don't mind the Americans, they better than the French., but the issue is this island is for sale. The Japanese want to lease a base, so do the Chinese, the Germans, Spain and others. All the money is pocketed by Geele. No conditions no rules, just rent to everybody.

[burahadeer]

 

 

<cite>@galbeedi said:</cite>

All the money is pocketed by Geele.

 

 

 

you say same thing of Silaanyo, you hate both jbouti & Somaliland and its all about ''am not majority''.Corruption in Africa is rampant but carpet bombing these guys!!! come on.

What else tiny barren jbouti could do ? they doing very good indeed by leasing.

[galbeedi]

Is that all you got. Being a majority of certain Somali place doesn't improve life for ordinary citizens. I want rule of law not my uncle is in charge. remember one of my close uncle was in charge of Somaliland for more than 8 years and nothing has improved for his own village.

 

I do not like Siilaanyo because he is tired, sick and old age. It is not personal. In fact Siilaanyo was always a capable man who could do things. He was never accused of corruption during the Somali government and the SNM time. The main issue is he has health issues which doesn't allow to be alert or safeguard the public purse. These gives unelected family cronies unqualified access. This exactly what happen Somalia in nineteen eighties. In hargeisa, just like Siyaad barre, we have a " Morgan" the son in law of Siilaanyo, arresting newspaper editors and journalists., just because they wrote about his un elected access and abuse. Did you see members of parliament being bought in Mogadishu?, well it is happening in Hargeisa. An entire members of former Udub party from Awdal were bought by cash to join Kulmiye party.

 

So please, The new "Reer Siyaad" Gaahgaabso yaan gaadh lagaa qabane".

 

people are not stupid. We see a cabinet chief, a mere minister being welcomed at the airport like a president. I see A Muuse Suudi ( Muuse Biixi), an unelectable gangster bulling people and trying to be leader by corruption and collusion.

 

La isma gaadhin, soon we will write all the misdeeds of Siilanyo, Geele, Qoslaaye and the rest.

[DoctorKenney]

I know this is totally off-topic, but just look at the President of Djibouti! The man looks absolutely sloppy!

 

Seriously, he's the Head of State! Lose some weight, trim your facial hair to look clean, buy a well-tailored suit which fits you and improve your posture! Being well-dressed is something VERY important and Gelle is representing Djibouti whenever he's in some foreign country.

 

He's gotta look better than this. This guy does NOT care about his physical appearance whatsoever.

[burahadeer]

<cite>

@galbeedi

said:</cite>

Is that all you got. Being a majority of certain Somali place doesn't improve life for ordinary citizens. I want rule of law not my uncle is in charge. remember one of my close uncle was in charge of Somaliland for more than 8 years and nothing has improved for his own village.

 

I do not like Siilaanyo because he is tired, sick and old age. It is not personal. In fact Siilaanyo was always a capable man who could do things. He was never accused of corruption during the Somali government and the SNM time. The main issue is he has health issues which doesn't allow to be alert or safeguard the public purse. These gives unelected family cronies unqualified access. This exactly what happen Somalia in nineteen eighties. In hargeisa, just like Siyaad barre, we have a " Morgan" the son in law of Siilaanyo, arresting newspaper editors and journalists., just because they wrote about his un elected access and abuse. Did you see members of parliament being bought in Mogadishu?, well it is happening in Hargeisa. An entire members of former Udub party from Awdal were bought by cash to join Kulmiye party.

 

So please, The new "Reer Siyaad" Gaahgaabso yaan gaadh lagaa qabane".

 

people are not stupid. We see a cabinet chief, a mere minister being welcomed at the airport like a president. I see A Muuse Suudi ( Muuse Biixi), an unelectable gangster bulling people and trying to be leader by corruption and collusion.

 

La isma gaadhin, soon we will write all the misdeeds of Siilanyo, Geele, Qoslaaye and the rest.

 

 

 

 

Waaryaa ku daba fayl siadists that's where you belong.People can see thru, why you hate those two entities is purely clannish.Your uncle Riyaale first came by accident & then was voted to office hoping his clan feel not marginalized but he didn't do a thing, just amassed weath.The people were hopeless.

YEEE now keep on comparing to Silaanyo , and how you know about his health? hal diidaysaa geed ay ku xoqato ma waydo.

Thru all your posts one can see the trend that is anti Somaliland camoufolaging as a serious diehard unionist who cares about the well being of Somalis,,but there is the reality most of us hate to point; and that's your clan was aligned with Siad Barre and you'r one of those still hanging to the past hoping,just hoping maybe one day you along the siadists can dominate somalilanders again.In jbouti you feel 2nd class citizens for a fact(know many of your group from there),as you mentioned in one of your articles that some of your family were at the forfront of jbouti liberation but were shortchanged.My friend you are a bitter man and am not going great lengths to defend Silaanyo, people who care have eyes,ears and feel the air around them,those who oppose honestly and think othawise have a right to do so, but those whose ultimate goal is the destruction of Somaliland or Siilaanyo for clannish reasons will have an uphill battle and will certainly lose.