Analysis: The Horn of Africa likely to see more U.S. Special Forces 

French praised Djibouti "the safest in the region"

DJIBOUTI - The Pentagon's first focus has been on the Horn of Africa and its eastern reaches

 By LISA HOFFMAN
Howard News Service
August 18, 2004

- When a contingent of U.S. soldiers arrived at a barren and torrid spot in remote Ethiopia earlier this year, it was distinguished only by six concrete slabs and abundant piles of dirt.

In mere days, troops from the Army's 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment transformed the desolate Horn of Africa acreage into a "forward operating base" that they dubbed "Camp United."

Complete with living tents, showers, toilets, a medical center and a recreation tent, the camp served as a temporary training facility for Ethiopian troops to learn a host of skills from American forces. It also could serve as a base for U.S. anti-terror missions or humanitarian efforts in the future.

As the Pentagon embarks on its most far-reaching restructuring of U.S. military might overseas in 50 years, spots like Camp United offer a glimpse of what's to come.

While the broad plan unveiled by President Bush Monday said no major military bases are envisioned for Africa, the continent all but ignored since the Korean War is likely to figure prominently in America's 21st century defense.

Top commanders of U.S. forces in Europe recently have been singling out Africa as a growing concern because of its political instability, potential attractiveness to terrorists looking for a base, and, most pivotal, its rich oil resources.

As much as 15 percent of America's oil now comes from West Africa and in a few more years the portion from Nigeria and a few other nations is projected to make up more than a third of all U.S. petroleum imports.

At the same time, Africa is also rich in lawless regions, disaffected Muslim populations and destitute people - all ingredients attractive to terrorists, says Marine Gen. James Jones, head of the U.S. European Command and an outspoken advocate of paying more attention to the continent.

"We are seeing indications of (the terrorists') willingness to move to Africa to start to develop their footholds and to export their particular brand of terrorism and instability," Jones told Congress earlier this year. Already, Nigeria is home to at least one al Qaeda-linked terrorist cell.

The Pentagon's first focus has been on the Horn of Africa and its eastern reaches. There, Sudan had served as a base for the al Qaeda network, while Kenya and Tanzania had been the sites for al Qaeda's terror bombings of two U.S. embassies. Yemen was used, as well, as a staging area for an attack on the USS Cole destroyer.

Though it has attracted little attention, a U.S. command base for 2,000 American troops has been operating in the tiny East African nation of Djibouti since June 2002. Called Camp Lemonier, the rugged installation that encompasses 88 acres has been home to Marines, Army soldiers and CIA personnel in the front lines of the anti-terror war.

Military leaders say the rest of Africa is also pivotal. Since January alone, Jones and other top U.S. commanders have traveled to Nigeria, South Africa, Mali, Djibouti, Gabon, Morocco, Mauritania, Rwanda, Uganda and Niger.

They discussed cooperative endeavors and possible agreements that would allow U.S. forces to establish compounds like Camp United in Ethiopia for training, anti-terror missions and staging humanitarian efforts.

Of particular interest is West Africa, where a U.S. command base like that in Djibouti is likely to be established, military experts say.

Last month, U.S. Gen. Charles Wald, No.2 commander of American forces in Europe, said a U.S.-run African Coastal Security Program is now under consideration. It would block pirates, smugglers and terrorists from using the strategically vital Gulf of Guinea in the heart of the West African oil country.

Both Wald and Jones say, however, that any new U.S. beachheads established in Africa would bear no resemblance to the massive military installations in Germany and South Korea. Instead, they mostly would be outposts and skeleton bases where U.S. military materiel could be stored for quick retrieval by American troops in a crisis.

"It's not 'fortress America' being built. But it is an engagement strategy that .. can be ... very effective. Very powerful," Jones told reporters earlier this year.

 UN Security Council renews group monitoring arms embargo against Somalia

 HAN (www.geeskaafrika.com) 18 August, 2004. 

The Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, set up in Djibouti in June 2002, is responsible for fighting terrorism in nine countries around the Horn of Africa: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Somalia in Africa and Yemen on the southwestern corner of the Arabian Peninsula.

Brig. Gen. Samuel Helland, commander of the task force, said aggressive security measures in cooperation with U.S. forces have reduced the area where terrorists can hide and train. "We've got forces now in almost every country and we've got representation in every country," except Somalia, Helland told AP in an interview.

He said U.S. training of regional militaries is increasing and the U.S. task force is averaging one civilian-military operation every three days to promote cooperation.
Asked if the task force had helped foil any specific terrorist strikes, the commander said no, but he added that he believed work with local forces has prevented attacks.
"I think the terrorist organizations that were in the Horn of Africa are still here," he said. "The war against terrorism takes a long time."

The impoverished region, which is home to many Muslims, is a well-established recruiting ground for terrorist groups and U.S. officials describe it as a critical theater in the war on terrorism.

The region has already suffered four terrorist attacks, all either claimed by - or attributed to - Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network. In August 1998, car bombs destroyed the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania; in October 2000 suicide bombers attacked the USS Cole while it was refueling in Yemen; and in November 2002 attackers tried to shoot down an Israeli airliner minutes before a car bomb destroyed a hotel on Kenya's coast.

The task force uses military training, humanitarian aid and intelligence operations to keep natiions in the region from becoming terrorist havens by strengthening local security forces and keeping terrorist groups from operating, Helland said.

"We provide the basic training in collection, processing, dissemination and analysis" of information related to terrorist activities, Helland said.

African governments have historically had a hard time providing security in remote rural areas or patrolling vast borders where nomads frequently cross without detection. Bandits often base in one country while stealing from another. Terrorists often seek out lawless areas.

"Terrorists need a sanctuary," Helland said. "They will look for places with chaos, lawlessness, a lack of government control."

While Somalia may be a haven for some groups, Helland said he doesn't know of any specific threat from that country, which has not had a government since 1993.

In addition to U.S. military training and patrols, he said his task force also provides aid to local civilians, helping improve America's reputation and build support for the local government and decreasing the likelihood terrorists will find support in these remote areas.

The operations also give U.S. soldiers experience, whether it is infantrymen working alongside African counterparts, engineers repairing buildings, or civil affairs officers living in local communities, Helland said, though the main focus if battling terrorism. Sources AP and HAN staff in Djibouti.

UN Security Council in session

Djibouti (HAN Monitor))18 August 2004 – Condemning continuing violations of the 12-year-old arms embargo against Somalia, the Security Council today called for a six-month extension of the latest mandate of an expert group monitoring the sanctions. The frontline and neighbouring states - Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen - should implement anti-money-laundering and anti-terrorist measures to strengthen the capacity of their financial institutions to trace client funds that might be linked to trafficking and smuggling, according to the report. Click Full Report 

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U.S. Force Builds School, Clinic in HURSO, Somali Zone - Ethiopia

HURSO, Ethiopia – Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa recently marked the opening of a school and clinic built by the Army’s 463rd Engineer Battalion and 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Special Operations). President of Somali Regional State, Abdi Jibril Abubakar, American Ambassador to Ethiopia Mrs. Aurelia E. Brazeal, 2nd Commander of 2nd Army Ethiopian People’s Democratic Revolutionary Front (Major Gen. Bacha Debele, and CJTF-HOA deputy Commander Army Brigadier Gen. Willard C. Broadwater spoke at the facility’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. According to Ambassador Aurelia Brazeal, who is a career member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service, this year marks an extraordinary anniversary for the entire American community in Ethiopia, for it was 100 years ago that diplomatic relations between the United States and Ethiopia were first opened. “The unique character of our relationship has helped to sustain it, and it has been strengthened over the years by a series of people-to-people contacts between Ethiopians and Americans who were able to rely on each other in times of need,” said Brazeal. “It is extremely important to us that both of our nations continue to value and sustain a friendship that allows for this level of collaboration. “I hope and believe that our friendship will last not only another 100 years, but 1,000’s of years to come,” she said. The grand opening ceremony began with a speech from the President of Somali Regional State. “Today we are making the inauguration ceremony of the various development schemes (school, clinic, community center and women’s center) that were constructed by American military forces around Hurso and its vicinities which are the result of the American friendship working together,” said Abubakar. These civil-military humanitarian assistance projects will contribute to the development and well being of the people of Hurso for a long-time to come, he added. During the ceremony Broadwater addressed the local residents and guests saying that by providing better education and health care, America can strengthen Ethiopian communities and help make them more prosperous, stable and peaceful. “Here in Hurso, the governments of Ethiopia and the United States have worked together to fulfill a number of critical needs of the community,” said Broadwater. “A newly refurbished school building that will provide for a better

environment for the education of the children. A newly built and expanded clinic facility, where nurses and care providers will have a clean and improved place to provide health care services for the community. “Additionally, our civil affairs team recently provided much needed support to the Polio vaccination initiative in the surrounding area,” he said. Broadwater ended his remarks saying that fighting terrorism and encouraging development go hand in hand. “In our fight against terrorism, the people of Ethiopia have been our resolute partners. We can clearly see that cooperation and mutual understanding of one another’s people and cultures can yield great benefits to both countries.” Besides cooperation in combating terrorism, the American government is helping the Ethiopian country on various development efforts and in the fight against poverty. “We believe the continuation of this cooperation is instrumental to the betterment of the living condition of our society,” said Abubakar. “I would like to express my gratitude to the U.S. government, and hope that the assistance they provide us will continue.” “Many people (such as those from the Hurso Women’s Association) volunteered their time to help our military engineers with the construction of the clinic, school and surrounding fence,” commented Army Capt. Fitzroy Grizzle, civil affairs team leader. “I salute the spirit of unity and cooperation that our troops have experienced here with the good people of Hurso. “Let all of us who gathered here today, and those who are not here, remember this day. Let the work Hurso has done together with us, stand as a monument to what is possible when we work together in friendship, security and cooperation … Ychalal,” Grizzle said, (which means, it is possible). Army Sgt. 1st Class Armando Martinez, civil affairs team sergeant, said “The three months I’ve spent in Hurso working on this project made my time in the Horn of Africa worth while. Our four-man team has built a special bond and friendship with the people of Hurso that will carry on throughout the rest of their lives as well as our own.” sources: Sgt. Bradly Shaver

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IGAD 2020 Council for International Relations and Economic  Support  for Somalia IGAD2020/HAA

IGAD 2020 Council for International Relations and Economic Support for Somalia

PRESS RELEASE
18 August, 2004
Contact: Abdullahi Mohamed, Coordinator IGAD 2020 Council
igad_2020@yahoo.com  or igad2020@yahoo.ca

Since the collapse of Somalia authority, Somalia has been in state of anarchy and thousands of Somalis, mostly women and children, have died or suffered in grim symbol of human tragedy, misery and degradation.

In 1990s, the international community tried to intervene to restore peace, relieve the suffering and end the civil war without success. Because of the lack national government and forces to protect its borders, Somalia has become a magnet for criminals, terrorists and damping ground for toxic waste.

This tragedy is compounded by the ambition of few warlords, who without regard to costs in human lives and destruction of property, are aiming at a personal political position in the event of an eventual political settlement of the conflict. And in the middle are kept prisoner the vast majority of the Somalis, who are tired of the war and are agonizing for peace and stability. They are voiceless, powerless and helpless.

Now, UN, IGAD and IPF have put forth a genuine effort and commitment to bring about peace, reconciliation and formation of a transitional national government.

The IGAD 2020 Council strongly supports the peace, reconciliation and the upcoming all-inclusive National Government. The council urges the government of United States of America, United Nations, Organization of African Unity, Arab League as well as the EU on development to support the results of Somali peace process, rebuilding of Somalia and the formation of its 2nd National Government for Somalia.

The Somali people are ready to seize the opportunity and move towards ending the anarchy to rebuild their lives and country. As evidenced by the demonstrations in Somalia, they express their gratitude to the people of IGAD  and the international community for their support on peace and reconstruction.

We agree the upcoming Somalia TNG to be fully represent its membership of  IGAD (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda. Somalia is also a member, but is not fully represented because it lacks a functioning government).

We honour the IGAD-sponsored Somali National Reconciliation Conference began in October 2002 in Kenyan.

We support the IGD  ministers' schedule to  the inauguration of the parliament for 30 July in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

Should you have any further questions contact us  Horn of Africa Aid(HAA), Djibouti, at   igad_2020@yahoo.com   or  igad2020@yahoo.ca  

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 HAN Bulletin is your independent, online intelligence resource edited and published by the regional political historian, veteran newsman and founder of www.geeskaafrika.com (Geeska Afrika Online 1985). Each week he taps his vast network of international intelligence sources to bring you credible insights into geo-political and geo-strategic developments for the Horn of Africa.  Contact at  nurkafi@geeskaafrika.com  (Managing Editor/Publisher)

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