China ‘negotiating Horn of Africa military base’ near U.S. Camp Lemonnier

China is negotiating a military base in the strategic port of Djibouti, the president says, raising the prospect of US and Chinese bases side-by-side in the tiny Horn of Africa nation. Djibouti is already home to Camp Lemonnier, the US military headquarters on the continent, used for covert, anti-terror and other operations in Yemen, Somalia and elsewhere across Africa. President Ismail Omar Guelleh said “discussions are ongoing” and Beijing’s presence would be “welcome”. France and Japan also have bases in the port.

The Japanese want to protect themselves from piracy - and now the Chinese also want to protect their interests, and they are welcome.

President Ismail Omar Guelleh

Djibouti and Beijing signed a military agreement allowing the Chinese navy to use Djibouti port in February 2014, a move that angered Washington. China aims to install a permanent military base in Obock, Djibouti’s northern port city. In recent years, Guelleh has increasingly turned to China as a key economic partner. Last year he switched the port operating contract to a Chinese company, after the previous Dubai-based operator was accused of corruption.

Africa