Overview: Djibouti remained an active counterterrorism partner. Its 2011 counterterrorism efforts focused on increased training for police and military members.

Legislation and Law Enforcement: Due to its geographic location and porous borders, counterterrorism remained a high priority for all Djiboutian law enforcement entities. The most visible of these efforts were ad hoc checkpoints within the capital city and an increased emphasis at border control points to screen for potential security threats. Djibouti continued to process travelers on entry and departure at its international airport and seaport with the Personal Identification Secure Comparison Evaluation System (PISCES) and added fingerprinting capability this year. Djibouti continued its participation in the Department of State's Antiterrorism Assistance program.

Countering Terrorist Finance: Djibouti is not a member of any Financial Action Task Force-style regional body. In May, its anti-money laundering legislation was amended to include the criminalization of terrorist financing. The Central Bank of Djibouti has a Financial Intelligence Unit, the Fraud Investigation Unit (FIU). Charged with investigating money laundering and terrorist finance-related issues, the FIU received notifications for approximately 10 suspicious transactions in 2011. Djibouti has been the focal point for discussions on money laundering and trafficking in the region.

For further information on money laundering and financial crimes, we refer you to the 2011 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), Volume 2, Money Laundering and Financial Crimes: http://www.state.gov/j/inl/rls/nrcrpt/index.htm.

Regional and International Cooperation: Djibouti hosts Camp Lemonnier, the only U.S. military site in Africa, which served as headquarters to close to 4,000 U.S. troops, including those serving with the U.S. Africa Command's Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. In 2011, the Government of Djibouti deployed the advance party for a battalion of troops from the Djiboutian Armed Forces to join the African Union Mission in Somalia.

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