Africa: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III’s Meetings With the President of Djibouti Ismail Omar Guelleh and Minister of Defense Hassan Omar Mohamed Bourhan

Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met with the President of Djibouti Ismail Omar Guelleh in Djibouti on his first trip to Africa.  The leaders discussed the bilateral defense relationship and regional security issues, including Djiboutian support to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia in the fight against violent extremist organizations in the region.  Secretary Austin thanked President Guelleh for…