America’s Secret African Drone War Targets the Islamic State
Uncategorized December 17, 2015
On Oct. 7 at an “undisclosed location” somewhere in “Southwest Asia,” men wearing different types of camouflage and dun-colored boots gathered before a black backdrop adorned with Arabic script. They were attending a ceremony that mixed solemnity with celebration, the commemoration of a year of combat that left scores... Read more
U.S. Air Force Pulls Predators From Djibouti
Uncategorized December 2, 2015
After five years of steady operations, the United States no longer has any MQ-1 Predators based in Djibouti. The Air Force quietly pulled the drones as the service find itself in the middle of a resource crunch and as it faces new threats around the world. In October, the flying branch... Read more
China Is Setting Up Its First Military Base in Africa
Uncategorized November 25, 2015
The People’s Republic of China is setting up its first military base in Africa as it continues its evolution into a global superpower. Beijing has signed a 10-year leasing agreement with Djibouti to build a logistical hub in that nation, which is located in the Horn of Africa. “They... Read more
Drones Don’t Work Alone — U.S. Patrol Planes and Fighters Teamed Up With Robots Over East Africa
Uncategorized October 17, 2015
In November 2002, the U.S. Navy command ship USS Mount Whitney dropped anchor off the coast of Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. American troops set up shop at Camp Lemonnier, a then-bare-bones French outpost in Djibouti that, 13 years later, is the U.S. military’s main base for launching... Read more