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Djibouti, U.S. celebrate relationships with Partner Appreciation Day

Guests gather for the official ceremony of the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Partner Appreciation Day 2022 event at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, on Nov. 10, 2022. The event celebrated the 20th anniversary of the arrival of U.S. service members in Djibouti after the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

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Photo by: Senior Airman Bryan Guthrie 

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Djibouti, U.S. celebrate relationships with Partner Appreciation Day

U.S. and coalition service members participate in the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Partner Appreciation Day 2022 event at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, on Nov. 10, 2022. The event celebrated the 20th anniversary of the arrival of U.S. service members in Djibouti after the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

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Photo by: Senior Airman Destani Matheny 

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Djibouti, U.S. celebrate relationships with Partner Appreciation Day

From left to right, U.S. Navy Capt. Brian Iber, Camp Lemonnier commanding officer; Djibouti Armed Forces Col. Maj. Mohamed Guelleh, senior official of Forces Armees Djiboutiennes; U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa commanding general; and the Honorable Jonathan Pratt, U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti, salute the U.S. and Djibouti flag during the national anthem at a Partner Appreciation Day 2022 event at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, on Nov. 10, 2022. Pratt and Shawley spoke at the ceremony about the power of cooperation and the enduring friendship among the task force partner nations.

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Photo by: Senior Airman Destani Matheny 

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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, commanding general of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), delivers remarks to guests of the CJTF-HOA Partner Appreciation Day 2022 event at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Nov. 10, 2022. The event celebrated the 20th anniversary of the arrival of U.S. service members in Djibouti after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Destani K. Matheny)

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Photo by: Senior Airman Destani Matheny 

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Djibouti, U.S. celebrate relationships with Partner Appreciation Day

U.S. service members pose for a photo next to an armored vehicle display during the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Partner Appreciation Day 2022 event at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, on Nov. 10, 2022. Task force allies and partners set up static and interactive displays to showcase their combined military capabilities.

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Photo by: Senior Airman Destani Matheny 

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Djibouti, U.S. celebrate relationships with Partner Appreciation Day

U.S. Army Maj. Chad Brinton, Office of Security Cooperation chief for the U.S. Embassy to Djibouti, talks with Djiboutian Navy Commander Col. Ahmed Djama during the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Partner Appreciation Day 2022 event at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, on Nov. 10, 2022. More than 200 guests participated in the event designed to showcase combined military capabilities and celebrate the enduring partnerships of CJTF-HOA.

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Photo by: Staff Sgt. Dallin Wrye 

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Djibouti, U.S. celebrate relationships with Partner Appreciation Day

From left to right, the Honorable Jonathan Pratt, U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti; Djibouti Armed Forces Col. Maj. Mohamed Guelleh, senior official of Forces Armees Djiboutiennes; U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa commanding general; and U.S. Navy Capt. Brian Iber, Camp Lemonnier commanding officer, pose for a photo during the CJTF-HOA Partner Appreciation Day 2022 event at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, on Nov. 10, 2022. The plaque was presented to Gueller as a symbol of appreciation for the 20 years of partnership and cooperation between the U.S. and Djiboutian governments.

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Photo by: Staff Sgt. Dallin Wrye 

Coalition and joint service members from the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa participated in a Partner Appreciation Day event Nov. 10, 2022, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.

The goal of the event was to celebrate the U.S.’ two-decades long commitment to allies and partners in East Africa on the 20th anniversary of the arrival of U.S. military troops in the region following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

“I’m very excited for everyone to be here, because it's a tremendous opportunity, not only to commemorate and celebrate a 20 year milestone in this friendship, this is more than just a moment in time as we look forward to this enduring relationship,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, commanding general of CJTF-HOA. “Following the heinous attacks on 9/11, the United States desperately needed a friend here. And Djibouti was that friend, and the French forces extended a hand and they remain so today.”

Camp Lemonnier began as a partnership between the country of Djibouti and the French Foreign Legion Forces. It is now a forward operating site and the only enduring U.S. military base on the continent of Africa. The camp is a logistics platform providing support services to over 25 tenant commands and activities, including CJTF-HOA.

“This is the best possible example that we can find of working together with a foreign partner on a common goal,” said the Honorable Jonathan Pratt, U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti. “I can think of no other example in this world where we are so closely aligned on our objectives, especially in Somalia, to bring peace and stability to counter Al-Shabaab.

“The [Djiboutian] government has hosted us so kindly all this time,” Pratt continued. “We’re so proud to work with our Djiboutian hosts to bring security and peace to this region.”

During the event, service members from Spain, Italy, France, Japan and the U.S. showcased equipment, aircraft and vehicles with interactive displays. The event also included a flyover by French and U.S. aircraft to further showcase U.S. partners’ military capabilities and commitment to peace and prosperity in Africa. 

“It's extremely important to take a step back and appreciate the relationships as well as the partnerships that we have here,” said U.S. Army Maj. Peter Owen, executive officer to the commanding general of CJTF-HOA. “Today was an opportunity to recognize the partnerships that have been built, recognize 20 years here at Camp Lemonnier, as well as have the ability to walk around, talk to people that you don't always get the chance to speak with outside of the work context, and be able to enjoy a few minutes together, recognizing them for the great work that they do as our partners.”