Supply Routes Sought To Connect Bases In East Africa

The U.S. Dept. of Defense is developing land-based supply routes from its main base at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti to several military camps across eastern Africa, reports Foreign Policy.

The first part of the trail will link Camp Lemonnier to Camp Baledogle in Somalia, sources told the news site. Parts of the route are controlled by Al-Shabaab, local warlords or run through the tense border region with Ethiopia.

The project could help entrench the U.S. military in the region and may be part of a broader strategy to counter China, analysts said. One former official said that the route was likely driven by logistical considerations.

U.S. personnel generally make the trip between the two bases by air. Sending American convoys through these territories is considered highly dangerous.

Creating the routes in Somalia is estimated to cost at least US$75 million.