Living and Working in Djibouti, Africa
Djibouti, officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea borders it in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in the east. Djibouti occupies a total area of just 3,200 km / 8,958 sq mi.
Djibouti is a multi-ethnic nation with a population of over 790,000 inhabitants. The Somali and Afar make up the two largest ethnic groups. Both speak Afro-Asiatic languages, which serve as recognized national languages. Arabic and French constitute the country's two official languages. About 94% of residents adhere to Islam, a religion that has been predominant in the region for more than 1,000 years.
Djibouti is located near the world's busiest shipping lanes, controlling access to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. It serves as a key refueling and transshipment center and is the principal maritime port for imports to and exports from neighboring Ethiopia. A burgeoning commercial hub, the nation is the site of various foreign military bases, including Camp Lemonnier. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development regional body also has its headquarters in Djibouti City.
WORKING AT CAMP LEMONNIER
Camp Lemonnier is a United States Naval Expeditionary Base situated at Djibouti's Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport and home to the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) of the U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM). The camp is operated by U.S. Navy Region Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia; CJTF-HOA is the most notable tenant command located at the facility as of 2008.
It was established as the primary base in the region for the support of Operation Enduring Freedom - Horn of Africa (OEF-HOA). After negotiations between March and May 2001, the Djiboutian government allowed for the base's use by the U.S., providing for demining, humanitarian, and counter-terrorism efforts. It now serves as the location from which U.S. and Coalition forces operating in the Horn of Africa. The access agreement made by officials from the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti with the Djiboutian government allows for the use of the camp and nearby airport and port facilities.
