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| Africa Horn |
| Djibouti to deploy extra troops to Somalia |
| 2014-07-18 |
| Djibouti plans to deploy an additional battalion of troops to Somalia to bolster the existing 1,000-strong force it has in the war-torn country. According to foreign affairs minister Mohamud Ali Yussuf the soldiers will help consolidate gains made by Djibouti’s armed forces in Somalia’s mainly in central Hiraan region. “In a few weeks time, we should deploy 450 troops and then another 500 a couple of months later.” He said. Djibout troops have captured the districts of Buuloburde and large parts of Beledweyne from al-Qaeda linked militant group Al Shabaab since offensive against the group was launched by AMISOM months ago. Djiboutian forces are part of the 22,000-strong personnel under the command of the African Union that is battling al-Shabaab militants in Somalia. The nation has subsequently boosted security across the its borders after the U.K. government warned last month that al-Shabaab may be planning to carry out further attacks in Djibouti, including Western interests such as the biggest U.S. military base in Africa at Camp Lemonnier. |
| Posted by:Steve White |