Trio Chicago & Friends in Djibouti (03/12/09)
U.S. Embassy Djibouti hosted Trio Chicago & Friends, an American classical music ensemble playing early 20th-century music by American composers, for a series of concerts targeting key regional opinion makers, members of the Djiboutian government, youth groups, civil society, and private business groups. The group performed five concerts over the course of six days, conducted two masters’ classes at the local Institute of Art, and wrapped up the tour with a live radio broadcast with music and questions. The group emphasized that American music is more than just the contemporary pop music commonly heard on the radio.
In response to requests by the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Leisure, and Tourism, the U.S. Embassy began the tour by taking the group to urban centers outside the capital city. Trio Chicago & Friends performed for over one hundred people in the remote urban center of Ali Sabieh, and over two hundred youth and high-school students in the northern city of Tadjourah. Both concerts were a success, reaching young audiences and were attended by notable members of the community, including the district governor of Ali Sabieh and other members of the GODJ regional administration.
In city of Djibouti itself, the group gave two masters’ classes for young and aspiring professional musician at the Djiboutian Institute of Art, as well as an evening concert. The group also performed for a full house at the French Cultural Center, and received rave reviews and garnered the Embassy effusive praise. The concert tour ended with a concert at the U.S. Embassy for government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and private business owners, wardens, and members of the NGO community.
Before leaving Djibouti, the group was interviewed by Radio-Television Djibouti to answer questions about American classical music and played selections from their repertoire for the listening audience. The interview was broadcast live and rebroadcast later that evening during the primetime news hour. The group appeared in the local press five times over the week; once in the government run local newspaper announcing their arrival and the start of the tour, three times on television (beginning, middle and at the end of the tour), and twice on the radio.
U.S. Embassy Hosts Martin Luther KING, JR. Day event (01/21/09)
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| Ambassador Swan delivering his speech |
On January 21, 2009, Ambassador James Swan hosted a Martin Luther King Day event at his residence. Guests included Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita, cabinet ministers, government officials and members of Parliament, representatives of political parties, and other distinguished guests. A number of senior Somali officials, including Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed also attended. Ambassador Swan delivered a short speech celebrating African American heritage and the strong cultural ties shared between Africa and the United States.
In addition, the occasion was used to mark the inauguration of President Barack Obama, who was sworn in shortly after noon EST (1700 GMT) on January 20. After taking the presidential oath of office, he became the 44th President of the United States, the first African-American to hold that office.
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts administered the oath of office to Obama on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Obama swore the oath of office on the bible last used to inaugurate President Abraham Lincoln in 1861. (Ambassador's speech)
Obock Pier Dedicated January 14, 2009 (01/14/09)
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| Ambassador Swan at the dedication ceremony |
Ambassador James Swan and Djibouti Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita inaugurated the new pier of Obock whose construction started in 2007. The Minister of Transport, Ali Hassan Bahdon; the Minister of Defense, Ougoureh Kifleh Ahmed; and Rear Admiral Philip Greene, Commander of CJTF-HOA, participated in the dedication ceremony.“This project is part of the greater whole,” Swan said. “If you look along the pier you will see two 17-meter patrol boats, provided to the Djiboutian Navy through another security cooperation program in 2007. Further down the coast, is the Ras Bir lighthouse which, still under construction, will eventually support a radar receiver as part of the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability. These three programs, taken together, will greatly enhance Djibouti’s ability to protect its maritime borders, leading to greater protection of the Port of Djibouti, and reducing the threat of piracy, human trafficking, smuggling and illegal fishing.”
The pier is divided into two structures; a civil portion and a military portion. The civil portion includes a small pier, boat ramp, classroom and a fully-equipped ice house. The military portion includes a 90-meter maritime platform, a head office, an administrative and mooring infrastructure, fully-automated gas and firefighting systems, as well as water and fuel storage facilities.
“The Obock pier project, funded by the U.S. military and managed by the [U.S. Embassy’s] U.S. Liaison Office, is the most significant program of its kind ever undertaken in sub-Saharan Africa,” said Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita. “I feel great satisfaction at the inauguration of the joint Obock pier, as it is the prelude to the development of an important civil and military port.”
Radiation Detection equipment for the Port of Djibouti soon (12/11/08)
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| Ambassador Swan and Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Djibouti Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, at the signing ceremony. |
Ambassador James Swan, acting on behalf of the Department of Energy for the National Nuclear Security Administration, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Ministry of Equipment and Transport that will allow the two governments to work together to prevent the smuggling of nuclear and other radioactive material. The Megaports Initiative will provide radiation detection equipment to the Port of Djibouti, which will help detect the presence of illicit or smuggled nuclear and other radioactive materials in cargo containers shipped through the port By signing the accord Djibouti will become the first Megaport facility in Africa and one of nineteen world-wide.
uSAID donated computer equipment for census (12/01/08)
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| Ambassador Swan with the Director of DISED, Amareh Ali and USAID representative Stephanie Funk. |
Ambassador Swan and USAID representative Stephanie Funk donated computer equipment to the Director of the Statistics Office of Djibouti (DISED) to support the second general census of the population and habitat. The computer equipment was given by the American Census Bureau and donated through USAID. In addition to the physical equipment, the American Census Bureau will provide technical assistance to help DISED collect and analyze census data. The equipment and technical assistance is worth $263,000 and will give the technicians of DISED the means necessary to conduct the first census in country in over two decades. Scheduled to start in January 2009, the census is critical to the Djiboutian government and its development partners because viable data on the population are necessary in order to successfully plan and fund assistance programs.
Ambassador Swan Djibouti tour (11/22/08)
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| Ambassador Swan with the Sultan of Tadjourah, Abdoulkhader Houmed Mohamed |
U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti James Swan visited several towns in Djibouti November 19 and 22. On November 19 the Ambassador paid a courtesy visit to the Sultan of Tadjourah, Mr. Abdoulkhader Houmed Mohamed and the Prefect, Mr. Abdoulrazak Daoud, as well as the President of the Tadjourah Regional Council, Mr. Daoud Alwan Daoud. While in Tadjourah, Ambassador Swan donated books to two institutions supported by USAID and the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund: a Children’s Library and the Center for Teacher Training. During the same trip, Ambassador Swan also visited a Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) Civil Affairs project which rehabilitated dormitories and a cantina at the local Tadjourah high school. (more)
Ambassador Swan visits President of National Assembly (11/10/08)
U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti James C. Swan visited with the President of Djibouti’s National Assembly, Idriss Arnaoud. The two discussed U.S.-Djiboutian bilateral relations, economic development, and development assistance cooperation between the two countries.
Presentation of Credentials (11/10/08)
US Ambassador to Djibouti James C. Swan presented his credentials to President Ismael Omar Guelleh at an official ceremony held at the Presidency on November 10, 2008. Ambassador Swan was nominated by President George W. Bush and was sworn in as Ambassador to the Republic of Djibouti on October 3, 2008. (read Ambassador’s speech)
School kits for the orphans (10/05/08)
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| School kits handing over ceremony to the students. 10/05/08 |
The US Embassy and UNICEF-Djibouti in partnership with Diwan Al Zakat Foundation handed school kits over to 550 orphan elementary school students during a symbolic ceremony that was held at the Youth Protection National Center on Sunday, October 5.
The ceremony presided by Mr. Aden Cheikh, President of the Foundation and Advisor to the President of the Republic, was held in the presence of the Representative of UNICEF, Dr. Kamuragiye, and the Public Affairs Officer of the US Embassy, Mr. Niles Cole. This was another opportunity for the US Embassy and UNICEF to join efforts in order to assist the most vulnerable population in a financially difficult situation.
550 elementary school orphans received a school bag with school supplies in order to get a good start for the new school year.
After the distribution of 300 school kits to the boarders of the Mother and Children Center and 150 others to the orphans cared for by the Ministry of Women’s Promotion, 1000 school kits would have reached the orphans and vulnerable children with these last 550 kits to the orphans listed by Diwan Al Zakat Foundation.
USAID and Government of Djibouti signs $2.7 Millions in agreement for Education and Health programs (09/25/08)
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Djibouti signed two cooperative agreements regarding health and education. The signing ceremony of those accords took place on September 09, 2008.
The handshake which is the emblem of USAID illustrates the nature of relations between the Republic of Djibouti and the American Agency. For some years, USAID and Djibouti have close relations, and they intend to continue on this way.
U.S. Agency for International Development and the Government of Djibouti signed two assistance agreements for health and education. The two documents signed by Mrs. Cheryl Anderson, director of USAID for East Africa and Mr. Ahmed Ali Silay, Minister Delegate for International Cooperation, are intended to support Djibouti in the implementation of the National Initiative for Social Development (INDS).
These agreements demonstrate the U.S. commitment to provide 478 million Djibouti francs (2.7 million US dollars) for bilateral development assistance to support Health and Education sectors in the Republic of Djibouti.
The agreements, which outline the commitment of both governments on common objectives, support the Ministries of Health and Education in providing financial support to specific USAID programs in Djibouti.
In health, the agreement will ensure the strengthening of the Ministry of Health’s activities aimed at polio eradication, through social mobilization and epidemiological surveillance. Besides, it will improve the capacity of the National TB Program while reducing the transmission of the disease.
In the education field, the agreement will support the Ministry of Education in its efforts to improve the education system at the national level, increase access to education for out of school children, ensure decentralized trainings for teachers, and increase community participation in primary schools.
Grant to LIFE under the Ambassador's Fund for Refugees in Africa (09/18/08)
The U.S. Embassy under the Ambassadors’ Fund for Refugees in Africa, awarded US$20,000 (DJF 3,540,000) to Local Initiatives for Education (LIFE) International Thursday October 18. The non-profit group dedicated to improving access to healthcare and educational opportunities for Djiboutians. Working in partnership with the “Association Point des Repères” (APR), LIFE will use the grant to create financially independent small businesses by providing job training and basic education to 60-80 refugees.
