In one of the poorest parts of Africa, an impressive American effort is underway to improve lives and pull the rug out from under would-be terrorists. The Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) is based at Camp Lemonier in Djibouti, a tiny country on the Red Sea bordered by Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia.
The CJTF-HOA is manned by 1,700 people from various military branches, civilians, and nationals from allied countries. They are fighting terrorism, but their defined mission statement sounds surprising:
Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa works to prevent conflict, promote regional stability and protect Coalition interests in east Africa and Yemen through humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, consequence management, civic action programs to include medical and veterinary care, school and medical clinic construction and water development projects.What does this mean when put into action? Simply this, building schools and drilling wells leads to greater prosperity and stability which denies extremists the fertile soil they need to cultivate hatred and violence.
Is it working? Early reports are encouraging. Pentagon leaders seem pleased and the mission overall seems to fit nicely into the new vision of the U.S. military.
But I am now in Djibouti to find out for myself.
I hope to have a full report with pictures and more after I return.