<
http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28
366:djibouti-a-growing-hub-for-clandestine-us-combat-operations&catid=49:Nat
ional%20Security&Itemid=115> Djibouti a growing hub for clandestine US
combat operations
Written by defenceWeb Friday, 02 November 2012 13:30
altCamp Lemonnier in Djibouti is now the United States' busiest Predator
unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) hub outside the Afghan war theatre, with a
dozen flights every day, striking high value targets in Africa and the
Middle East.
Every day, 16 UAVs and four jet fighters take off or land at Camp Lemonnier
as they take part in US military counterterrorism operations in the Horn of
Africa and the Middle East. This is according to a report by the Washington
Post, citing a letter to the US Congress sent by Deputy Defence Secretary
Ashton B Carter on August 20.
A variety of aircraft fly out of Camp Lemonnier, including RQ-1/MQ-1
Predator and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles, U-28A surveillance
aircraft, F-15E Strike Eagles and C-130 Hercules transports.
In late 2010, the US dispatched eight MQ-1B Predators to Djibouti and turned
Camp Lemonnier into a full-time UAV base. These UAVs have been used to
strike targets in Yemen and Somalia.
The number of military flights from Djibouti has grown dramatically
recently, and according to Defence Department documents seen by the
Washington Post, the number of takeoffs and landings each month grew to 1
666 in July, compared with a monthly average of 768 two years before. The
growing tempo of operations has resulted in numerous accidents, with five
Predators crashing since January 2011.
On February 18 this year a US Air Force U-28A surveillance aircraft crashed
five miles from Camp Lemonnier, killing all four on board. An Air Force
investigation into the crash concluded that the crew could not recognize the
aircraft's position in the air, causing it to crash. The U-28A "Ratchet 33"
had taken off from Camp Lemonnier at approximately 3 p.m. local time to
"accomplish a combat mission in support of a combined joint task force" in
the region. After the crash, Camp Lemonnier scrambled two F-15s and a Marine
UH-53 helicopter with an Army quick reaction force and Air Force pararescue
jumpers to head to the scene.
Air Force Special Operations Command flies 21 U-28A reconnaissance aircraft,
which are modified Pilatus PC-12 airframes and are maintained by
contractors.
In addition to the UAVs and U-28s, US forces are also flying F-15s out of
Djibouti, with a squadron arriving in October 2011. Two former US defence
officials told the Washington Post that the F-15s were flying combat
missions over Yemen in an effort to counter al Qaeda there.
Earlier this year the United Nations Monitoring Group on Eritrea and Somalia
and Eritrea said that, "based on confidential security reports and open
source information, [it] has counted 64 reports of activities of foreign jet
fighters, helicopters and UAVs in Somalia from June 2011 to April 2012."
Some of these reports concern attacks mistakenly targeting an internally
displaced people camp and a humanitarian feeding centre, targeted killings
by drones of Al-Shabaab commanders, and Special Forces covert operations in
Somalia.
"The Monitoring Group has also received report that the US government is
operating for covert operations in Somalia a fleet of four unmarked Mil
Moscow Helicopter Plant Mi-17 helicopters, based at Camp Lemonier in
Djibouti. These aircraft, although not equipped with any weaponry, are
reportedly used to deploy US-Special forces from Djibouti to northeastern
Somalia in support of the Puntland Intelligence Agency (PIA)."
The reported highlighted several incidents involving UAVs. On August 19,
2011, an Associated Press reporter saw pieces of a surveillance drone that
had crashed on a house in central Mogadishu, before being recovered by
AMISOM soldiers. On November 13, 2011, a UAV matching the description of an
RQ-11 Raven overflew Mogadishu, passing over the UNCC and UNSOA bulk fuel
installations, representing a serious security threat to AMISOM, because of
the risk of a crash into its main fuel depot. On January 9 this year, a
Boeing 737 passenger jet, operated on behalf of AMISOM, almost collided with
a UAV after departure from Mogadishu International Airport. Furthermore, on
February 3, 2012, a US-manufactured drone crashed in Badbaado IDP camp in
Mogadishu. The remains of the aircraft were quickly recovered by AMISOM and
TFG security forces.
Camp Lemonnier is the only official US military base in Africa, and is home
to more than 2 000 American military personnel - around half of the total on
the continent. According to the Washington Post, there are around 300
Special Operations personnel at Camp Lemonnier who plan and coordinate
missions from the base.
"In August, the Defence Department delivered a master plan to Congress
detailing how the camp will be used over the next quarter-century. About
$1.4 billion in construction projects are on the drawing board, including a
huge new compound that could house up to 1 100 Special Operations forces,
more than triple the current number," the Washington Post said.
A number of construction contracts have already been awarded - on September
10 the DoD awarded CH2M Hill-Metag $61 995 330 to construct a combat
aircraft loading area, a taxiway extension and an ammunition supply point to
"support current and emerging operational missions at Camp Lemonnier". Work
is due for completion by April 2014.
Further contracts for 'construction projects', announced on September 6,
were awarded to another four companies: Lakeshore Toltest Corp; Barlovento L
L C; Prime Projects International (Construction) Ltd; and PAE Government
Services Inc. The maximum value for these four contracts at Camp Lemonnier,
scheduled to conclude in September 2017, is $75 000 000.
In June the Washington Post article stated that the United States has
established a dozen air bases in Africa since 2007, mainly for surveillance
purposes. Most are small operations run out of secluded hangars at African
military bases or civilian airports. Surveillance is overseen by US Special
Operations forces but relies to a large extent on private military
contractors and support from African troops. This allows these operations to
fly below the radar. Using U-28 surveillance aircraft rather than unmanned
aerial vehicles also keeps the profile of these operations low. Some of the
bases are in Ethiopia, the Seychelles, Burkina Faso and Uganda.
Africa has emerged as a greater priority for the US government because
terrorist groups there have become an increasing threat to US and regional
security. The US is concerned about al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM),
insurgents in Mali, Boko Haram extremists in Nigeria and al Shabaab militia
in Somalia. In central Africa, around 100 US special forces are assisting in
the hunt for warlord Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord's Resistance Army.
Received on Fri Nov 02 2012 - 12:08:50 EDT
