Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) Mission

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The Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) is a joint task force of United States Africa Command (AFRICOM). The task force was established at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina on October 19, 2002, following the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001 and the subsequent War on Terror.

In October 2002, headquarters elements of the Marine Corps were sent to establish the Task Force in Djibouti. CJTF-HOA operated from USS Mount Whitney until May 13, 2003, when the mission moved ashore to Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti City, Djibouti.

The CJTF HOA area of operations includes the countries of Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, South Sudan and the islands of the Seychelles. It’s also close to the Middle East. Not sure why? Africa Command, one of the Defense Department's 10 unified combatant commands. Much of the Horn of Africa is still working toward stability.

Mission and Activities

CJTF-HOA consists of about 2,000 servicemen and women from the United States Department of Defense. The task force does a range of things, including security force assistance, execution of military engagements, providing force protection and providing military support to regional organizations that are working to counter violent extremist operations. From Fiscal Year 2020 the term "Operation Enduring Freedom - Horn of Africa" has been used in United States federal budget Overseas Contingency Operations supplemental funding documents to designate funds spent on Camp Lemonnier and CJTF-HOA. In 2012, the task force had an assigned area of interest that included Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Seychelles and Kenya.

CJTF-HOA's activities developed into "military-to-military engagements; civil-military operations; key leader engagements; and "enabling support". Long-term goals include working with African and other states to improve national and regional stability and security.

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The task force ran Civil affairs and military-to-military training; engineering and humanitarian projects; medical, dental, and veterinarian civic action programs (MEDCAP, DENTCAP, VETCAP); security training for border and coastal areas; and Counter-IED efforts training. It has trained in collaboration with many of the armed forces around the Horn of Africa.

Members of the Task Force have provided humanitarian assistance. This has included recovery efforts after the collapse of a four-story building in Kenya in 2006, the capsizing of a passenger ferry in Djibouti in 2006, and floods in Ethiopia and Kenya in 2006. CJTF-HOA has drilled and refurbished more than 113 water wells; built functional schools, and improved roadways and medical facilities.

One example is Cutlass Express, an annual exercise that bolsters maritime security by training regional forces on techniques and tactics that counter piracy, illegal fishing and other threats. Another is Alligator Dagger, an opportunity for Marines and sailors to work with alliance forces on training that keeps them ready for missions on land, air and sea.

One of the key contributions of CJTF-HOA to JA25 is the deployment of the East Africa Response Force (EARF), where Soldiers will train alongside the Tanzania People’s Defense Force (TPDF) to refine rapid deployment capabilities, crisis response, and disaster relief operations. CJTF-HOA’s participation in JA25 underscores its dedication to regional stability, crisis response, and multinational cooperation.

Simultaneously, CJTF-HOA’s 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade will support the Djiboutian Battalion Intervention Rapide’s (BIR) tactical training exercise as part of JA25. Djibouti has been a frequent participant in Justified Accord and has brought lessons learned from past exercises to strengthen readiness and lethality. This collaboration will validate crisis response capabilities and facilitate military-to-military knowledge exchanges.

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A major highlight of JA25 includes the first-ever nighttime air-to-ground integration (AGI) operations. Army Lt. Col. Jason Porter, deputy chief of exercises, SETAF-AF.

Africa Command’s mission, CJTF-HOA continues its commitment to strengthening partnerships and improving the effectiveness of East African security forces. Africa Command’s largest military exercise in East Africa, Feb. 10-21.

Historical Operations

In August 2002, Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable (MEU) (SOC)) carried out a long-range deployment exercise from the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp into Djibouti.

In November 2002, a CIA-controlled Predator drone fired a Hellfire missile at a vehicle in the Yemeni desert containing Qaed Salim Sinan al-Harethi, a Yemeni suspected senior al-Qaeda lieutenant. al-Harethi was believed to have been the mastermind behind the October 2000 USS Cole bombing that had killed 17 Americans. He was on a list of targets whose capture or death had been called for by President George W. Bush.

In November 2003, Joint Special Operations Task Force - Horn of Africa was a component of CJTF-HOA. At the time, Turner's JSOTF-HOA, of 350-400 personnel, was "by far the largest operational component" of CJTF-HOA. Turner's task force ran SDV missions emplacing stationary cameras along the coast of Somalia in order to fill in the gaps for almost unavailable overhead imagery collection. Turner also headed the CENTCOM Crisis Response Element.

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On 6 May 2005, a party of Marines reportedly landed in Somaliland, the autonomous and self-declared state in northern Somalia. The Marines reportedly handed out photos to locals of possible terrorist suspects. Three ships, including a helicopter carrier, were reported in a nearby anchorage, likely a passing Marine Expeditionary Unit/Amphibious Ready Group (MEU/ARG).

In September 2009, Joint Special Operations Command carried out a raid on Baraawe, Lower Shabelle, named Operation Celestial Balance. They killed Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, as well as five other militants. Also in 2009, British Army soldiers from the Special Air Service and the Special Reconnaissance Regiment were deployed to Djibouti as part of CJTF-HOA to conduct operations against Islamist terrorists in Somalia.

Commanders of CJTF-HOA

The following individuals have served as Commanders of the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa:

DatesCommanding General
November 2002 to August 2003United States Marine Corps Major General John F.
May 2004 to May 2005United States Marine Corps Major General Samuel T.
May 17, 2005 to April 12, 2006United States Marine Corps Major General Timothy F.
April 12, 2006 to February 14, 2007United States Navy Rear Admiral Richard W.
February 14, 2007 to February 3, 2008United States Navy Rear Admiral James M.
February 8, 2008 to February 5, 2009United States Navy Rear Admiral Philip H.
March 27, 2010 to May 19, 2011United States Navy Rear Admiral Brian L.
May 11, 2011 to May 26, 2012United States Navy Rear Admiral Michael T.
May 26, 2012 to March 28, 2013United States Army Major General Ralph O.
April 2015 - April 2016United States Army Major General Mark R.
April 2016 - April 2017United States Army Major General Kurt L.
April 2017 - May 2018United States Marine Corps Brigadier General David J.
May 2018 - June 2018United States Army Brigadier General William L.
June 2018 - June 2019United States Army Major General James D.
June 2019 - June 2020United States Army Major General Michael D.
June 2020 - May 2021United States Army Major General Lapthe C.
May 2021 - May 2022United States Army Major General William L.
May 2022 - April 2024United States Army Major General Jami C.
April 2024 - PresentUnited States Army Major General Brian T.

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