Djibouti?s port and airport have proved useful in dealing with humanitarian disasters and military contingencies in the region. The U.S. Embassy facilitates access, while France plays a key stabilizing role by stationing 3,000 military personnel in Djibouti. The Embassy has eight direct hire Americans and a budget of $3.5 million. The small, expensive Embassy rightly participates in the Special Embassy Program. The decision to cover the neighboring northwest portion of Somalia (Somaliland) from Djibouti, however, appears to reflect a loss of perspective and has resulted in needless security risks. The Department should assess the advantages and risks of a continued role for Embassy Djibouti in Somaliland. OIG also recommended immediate disposal of a costly, but still unseaworthy, boat used for recreation.
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