UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

DJIBOUTI: President on official visit to the US

NAIROBI, 20 January 2003 (IRIN) - Djibouti President Isma'il Omar Guelleh on Saturday left for a five-day official visit to the US at the invitation of the US government, a Djibouti official told IRIN on Monday.

The official said the president, who is expected to meet his US counterpart George Bush on Tuesday, will discuss "strengthening bilateral cooperation, the fight against terrorism, regional stability, the Somali peace process and Djibouti government efforts to reduce poverty".

The strategically located, tiny Horn of Africa nation has, since 11 September 2001, become an important base for western forces - including from the US and Germany - in the anti-terrorism coalition. There are also troops from France, which already had a base in its former colony.

President Guelleh's delegation includes Foreign Minister Ali Abdi Farah, Minister of Presidential Affairs Osman Ahmed Moussa, and Minister of Justice Isma'il Ibrahim Houmed.

Themes: (IRIN) Conflict

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