U.S. Upgrades Port To Support Horn Of Africa Operations

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
worldtribune

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Defense Department has approved a project for the upgrade of infrastructure in Djibouti in western Africa.

The program was meant to facilitate U.S. Navy operations in the Horn of Africa, particularly near such countries as Somalia and Yemen, a route used often by Al Qaida.

The Pentagon has been working on establishing the military's African Command. Officials said the Pentagon would launch discussions on the location of the military command, Middle East Newsline reported.

"The importance of Africa is the reason we are establishing this new unified command," Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary Theresa Whelan said on Feb. 9. "This isn't about a scramble for the continent. This isn't about chasing terrorists around Africa."

The Pentagon has awarded a $6.7 million contract to Kellogg Brown & Root Services for the construction of facilities at a naval base in Obock, Djibouti. Under the December 2006 award, the Arlington, Va.-based company would construct a pier and boat ramp at the Obock Waterfront Facilities.

The award increased the value of the overall port project to $7.7 million. Officials said the project would take place in Obock, Djibouti.

The latest contract was expected to be completed by August 2007, the Pentagon said. Officials said contract funds would not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

Rear Adm. Robert Moeller, whose team drafted Africom, said the command would build partnerships, support U.S. government agencies, conduct regional security cooperation and increase counter-insurgency skills of partner nations.

"Virtually all these kinds of things are ongoing today," Moeller said. "We think that we will be able to do all of these kinds of activities even more effectively."

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