U.S. Africa Command

COMBINED JOINT TASK FORCE–HORN OF AFRICA

Mission
Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa conducts operations in the East Africa region to build partner nation capacity in order to promote regional security and stability, prevent conflict, and protect US and coalition interests.

Vision
CJTF-HOA builds and strengthens partnerships to contribute to security and stability in East Africa. The task force’s efforts, as part of a comprehensive whole-of-government approach, are aimed at increasing our African partner nations’ capacity to maintain a stable environment, with an effective government that provides a degree of economic and social advancement to its citizens. An Africa that is stable, participates in free and fair markets, and contributes to global economic development is good for the United States as well as the rest of the world. Long term stability is a vital interest of all nations.

Means
Through an indirect approach that focuses on populations, security capacity and basic human needs to counter violent extremism, CJTF-HOA operations build and call upon enduring regional partnerships to prevent conflict. The task force conducts civil-military operations, military-to-military engagements, key leader engagements, provides enabling support and uses outreach communications to support and enable security and stability.

Background
CJTF-HOA was established at Camp Lejeune, N.C., on Oct. 19, 2002. In November 2002, service members embarked on a 28-day training cruise aboard USS MOUNT WHITNEY, and arrived in the Horn of Africa on Dec. 8, 2002. CJTF-HOA operated from the MOUNT WHITNEY until May 13, 2003, when the mission transitioned ashore to Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti City, Djibouti. Since then, CJTF-HOA personnel have used civil military operations as the cornerstone to countering violent extremism and building partner nation and regional security capacity. Working closely with U.S. Government agencies, particularly U.S. State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development, CJTF-HOA has supported development by building and renovating numerous schools, clinics and hospitals, conducting Medical Civil Action (MEDCAP) and Veterinary Civil Action (VETCAP) projects, and supporting water resource development and waste management. .

Service members from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, civilian employees and representatives of coalition and partner countries serve on behalf of CJTF-HOA. The task force, along with coalition and other US defense components, provide support to regional organizations to help foster cooperation, enhance collective peace-keeping, improve humanitarian assistance and support civil-military operations. The CJTF-HOA Areas of Responsibility (AOR) includes the countries of Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, and Seychelles. The CJTF-HOA area of interest (AOI) includes Yemen, Tanzania, Mauritius, Madagascar, Mozambique, Burundi, Rwanda, Comoros, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda.

Contact Information

CJTF-HOA Public Affairs Office
Email:	CJTF-HOAPAO@hoa.usafricom.mil
Phone:	Commercial: (+253) 359-523 DSN: (311) 824-2342