Camp Le Monier

Camp Le Monier is a United States Navy Base situated in Djibouti and is home to Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) of the United States Central Command. It is a former military barracks of the French Foreign Legion. After negotiations in February 2001, the Djiboutian government allowed for the base's use by the United States for demining, humanitarian, and counter-terrorism efforts, and it now serves as the location from which United States and Coalition forces are operating in the Horn of Africa. The agreement made by officials from the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti signed an access agreement with the Djiboutian government for not only use of the camp, but the nearby airport and the port facilities as well.

Facility

The facility had not been used in a number of years and was reported to be in some disrepair. Buildings had reportedly been stripped of pipes and wiring, while the roofing of several structures had collapsed. Goats roamed the property and birds had taken to roost in several of the abandoned structures.

Renovations on the facility began sometime in mid-2001 following an evaluation by CENTCOM personnel. This involved building new concrete pads, maintenance facilities and living areas.

Base of operations

Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) began moving all headquarters personnel and equipment from its flagship, USS Mount Whitney, in the Gulf of Aden, into facilities at Camp Le Monier on May 6, 2003.

Djiboutian workers were instrumental in preparing the newly-renovated 88-acre camp for movement of the CJTF headquarters ashore. More than 300 local construction personnel currently work aboard the camp each day and nearly 300 day-workers are employed in other camp support operations. The Kellogg Brown and Root Company administers the contract for facilities and support operations aboard the camp, which include the laundry service and the dining facility. Kellogg, Brown & Root is a unit of Halliburton, the Texas-based energy company.

On July 1, 2006, the United States Marine Corps turned over responsibility for Camp Lemonier to the U.S. Navy in a brief change of command ceremony.

In early July 2006, the U.S. and Djiboutian Government announced that a lease agreement had been signed to expand Camp Lemonier from 88 acres to nearly 500 acres. The term of the lease is for 5 years with options to renew. Planned improvements to the Camp include fencing, additional billeting to replace existing tents, and compliance with various U.S. Central Command force protection standoff requirements.

Tenant commands

The Camp Lemonier staff is responsible for the expansion, upkeep, and logistics support of the base. A U.S. Marine Provisional Security Company is responsible for providing security for the Camp and its local environs.

Other tenant commands include the CJTF-HOA staff, a U.S. Navy Seabee battalion, a U.S. Army C-26 detachment, a U.S. Marine heavy-lift helicopter (CH-53) detachment, a U.S. Navy P-3 detachment (technically a part of NAVCENT, and a U.S. Air Force HC-130 detachment.

See also

References

• U.S. Military plans to expand Camp Lemonier in Djibouti, Stars & Stripes, August 14, 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-14.

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