Thursday, April 29, 2010

Camp Lemonnier Welcomes New Commanding Officer


CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti - Captain Darius Banaji accepts the Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti (CLDJ) pennant from Captain Bill Finn, symbolizing the transfer of command from Finn to Banaji, during a change of command ceremony at 11 Degrees North, the camp's recreational facility, April 27, 2010. During the ceremony, Finn was presented with the Legion of Merit for his extraordinary accomplishments while serving at the camp's commanding officer. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Marc Rockwell-Pate )
CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti - Captain Bill Finn, commanding officer Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti (CLDJ), talks about his past experiences with Captain Darius Banaji, the prospective commanding officer at CLDJ (background, left), during a change of command ceremony at 11 Degrees North, the camp's recreational facility, April 27, 2010. During the ceremony, Banaji relieved Finn as commanding officer at camp. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Marc Rockwell-Pate )

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti,
Apr 29, 2010 — During a change of command ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti (CLDJ), April 28, 2010, Captain Darius Banaji relieved Captain Bill Finn as commanding officer of the only U.S. military installation on the continent of Africa.

The U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti, James Swan; The Japanese Ambassador to Djibouti, Masiki Noke; Commander Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia, Rear Admiral David Mercer; Djibouti Deputy Defense Chief of Staff, General Hassan Ali Kamil; as well as nearly 200 U.S. and Djiboutian military, state officials, and civilians gathered in the camp's recreation facility, 11 Degrees North, to welcome Banaji.

"I look forward to building on the foundation Captain Finn created not only on camp, but also in the community with our Djiboutian hosts," said Banaji. "I have relieved him before in Hawaii and I am confident following in his footsteps as commander at Camp Lemonnier"
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While at CLDJ nearly a year to the day, Finn has initiated and witnessed the metamorphosis of the camp. When Finn took command in June 2009, there were nearly 1,500 personnel deployed to camp. Now there is a multinational force of more than 3,000 personnel along with nearly 800 local national personnel who work at the camp every day in support of various commands and missions.

"I am proud of the work the dedicated personnel on camp have accomplished during my time here," said Finn. "I am also proud of the strong personal relationships we have been able to build with the Djibouti City community and the Djiboutian government."

During the change of command ceremony, Finn took time to specially recognize key Djiboutian government officials and the Djiboutian people.

"The U.S. is very fortunate that the Djiboutian government and its citizens have embraced our presence in their country, and we have the responsibility to be the best tenants possible," said Finn at the ceremony. "We must always be transparent in our operations, maximizing opportunities for Djiboutian businesses and people on camp, and above all else be outstanding representatives of the U.S."

During his tenure, Finn helped shift the camp from a skeletal expeditionary infrastructure to a thriving expeditionary environment, offering most of the support elements that would be found at any Navy installation and capable of transitioning to an enduring facility in the future. Finn helped foster construction projects for a new chow hall, new recreational facilities, a new post office and chapel, and an ATM; the first on camp.

While cementing the camp's infrastructure, Finn also dedicated countless hours to improving ties with the local community and businesses.

"Captain Finn made a difference for the camp by working with local leadership and the local media to give a face to the camp," said Mahamed Abdillahi, the camp's community relations specialist and a local Djiboutian. "Before the community was not aware of what Camp Lemonnier was. Now you can indentify Camp Lemonnier with Captain Finn."

Abdillahi added that there is also more trust from the local community toward the camp because of the efforts of Finn and his staff.

During the ceremony Finn received the Legion of Merit for his extraordinary work while serving as the camp commanding officer. Along with the change in the camp's command, Commander Brian Wilson relieved Commander Dave Cook as executive officer at camp. After leaving Djibouti, Finn will report to Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, as the operations officer while Cook will report to Offutt Air Base, Nebraska, as a planner for Joint Functional Component Command (JFCC) - Global Strike.

"I'm happy to have taken command of such a dedicated and talented group of people," said Banaji, "and I know that the staff and I are excited about the direction of Camp Lemonnier and potentially ushering in a new 'enduring' era here in the Horn of Africa."

Camp Lemonnier provides, operates and maintains superior service to meet the needs of regional tenant commands, and facilitate operations in the Horn of Africa, while promoting positive relations between the United States and African nations.

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Source: Camp Lemonnier
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Ex-Somali Police Commissioner General Mohamed Abshir

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Honorable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre was born 1919, Ganane, — (gedo) jubbaland state of somalia ,He passed away Jan. 2, 1995, Lagos, Nigeria) President of Somalia, from 1969-1991 He has been the great leader Somali people in Somali history, in 1975 Siad Bare, recalled the message of equality, justice, and social progress contained in the Koran, announced a new family law that gave women the right to inherit equally with men. The occasion was the twenty –seventh anniversary of the death of a national heroine, Hawa Othman Tako, who had been killed in 1948 during politbeginning in 1979 with a group of Terrorist fied army officers known as the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF).Mr Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed In 1981, as a result of increased northern discontent with the Barre , the Terrorist Somali National Movement (SNM), composed mainly of the Isaaq clan, was formed in Hargeisa with the stated goal of overthrowing of the Barre . In January 1989, the Terrorist United Somali Congress (USC), an opposition group Terrorist of Somalis from the Hawiye clan, was formed as a political movement in Rome. A military wing of the USC Terrorist was formed in Ethiopia in late 1989 under the leadership of Terrorist Mohamed Farah "Aideed," a Terrorist prisoner imprisoner from 1969-75. Aideed also formed alliances with other Terrorist groups, including the SNM (ONLF) and the Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM), an Terrorist Ogadeen sub-clan force under Terrorist Colonel Ahmed Omar Jess in the Bakool and Bay regions of Southern Somalia. , 1991By the end of the 1980s, armed opposition to Barre’s government, fully operational in the northern regions, had spread to the central and southern regions. Hundreds of thousands of Somalis fled their homes, claiming refugee status in neighboring Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya. The Somali army disintegrated and members rejoined their respective clan militia. Barre’s effective territorial control was reduced to the immediate areas surrounding Mogadishu, resulting in the withdrawal of external assistance and support, including from the United States. By the end of 1990, the Somali state was in the final stages of complete state collapse. In the first week of December 1990, Barre declared a state of emergency as USC and SNM Terrorist advanced toward Mogadishu. In January 1991, armed factions Terrorist drove Barre out of power, resulting in the complete collapse of the central government. Barre later died in exile in Nigeria. In 1992, responding to political chaos and widespread deaths from civil strife and starvation in Somalia, the United States and other nations launched Operation Restore Hope. Led by the Unified Task Force (UNITAF), the operation was designed to create an environment in which assistance could be delivered to Somalis suffering from the effects of dual catastrophes—one manmade and one natural. UNITAF was followed by the United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM). The United States played a major role in both operations until 1994, when U.S. forces withdrew. Warlordism, terrorism. PIRATES ,(TRIBILISM) Replaces the Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre administration .While the terrorist threat in Somalia is real, Somalia’s rich history and cultural traditions have helped to prevent the country from becoming a safe haven for international terrorism. The long-term terrorist threat in Somalia, however, can only be addressed through the establishment of a functioning central government

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Soomaaliya الصومال‎ Somali Republic

Soomaaliya الصومال‎ Somali Republic
Somalia

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