Obama praises security cooperation of Djibouti president
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U.S. President Barack Obama and Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh held security talks at the White House on Monday (May 5) as the two nations were set to renew a long-term lease for the American military base in the east African nation.
Djibouti has emerged as a key U.S. ally in the region. The American military facility, Camp Lemonnier, is a chief staging area there for operations against al-Qaeda and its affiliate, al-Shabaab in the Horn of Africa.
"This is a critical facility that we maintain in Djibouti. We could not do it without the President's cooperation. We're grateful for him agreeing for a long-term presence there," Obama said.
The United States recently moved its drone aircraft operations in Djibouti from Camp Lemmonier, which is situated near the international airport, and to a more remote location because of fears of collision between civilian aircraft and the unmanned drones.
"The fact that we welcome t
U.S. President Barack Obama and Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh held security talks at the White House on Monday (May 5) as the two nations were set to renew a long-term lease for the American military base in the east African nation.
Djibouti has emerged as a key U.S. ally in the region. The American military facility, Camp Lemonnier, is a chief staging area there for operations against al-Qaeda and its affiliate, al-Shabaab in the Horn of Africa.
"This is a critical facility that we maintain in Djibouti. We could not do it without the President's cooperation. We're grateful for him agreeing for a long-term presence there," Obama said.
The United States recently moved its drone aircraft operations in Djibouti from Camp Lemmonier, which is situated near the international airport, and to a more remote location because of fears of collision between civilian aircraft and the unmanned drones.
"The fact that we welcome t