By Horn Africa News
Djibouti – Japan’s Defense Minister Nakatani Gen has pledged to improve the welfare and working conditions of Self-Defense Forces (SDF) personnel stationed at Japan’s only overseas military base in Djibouti.
During his visit to the East African nation on Monday, Nakatani toured the base, inspected patrol aircraft, and met with servicemen and women deployed on anti-piracy and security operations in the region.
The Djibouti base, established to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia, plays a critical role in safeguarding commercial shipping routes vital to Japan’s economy. In addition to escort missions and intelligence-gathering, the unit has since 2023 been tasked with protecting and evacuating Japanese nationals during emergencies abroad.
Speaking to reporters after the visit, Nakatani praised the personnel for maintaining high morale despite the challenging environment.
“I am proud of their dedication and discipline in fulfilling difficult duties far from home,” he said.
He emphasized the growing strategic importance of the Djibouti base and promised to push for better support measures, including enhanced benefits, to ensure troops remain motivated and well-equipped for their missions.
Japan’s facility in Djibouti, located alongside bases of other international forces, underscores Tokyo’s increasing security presence in Africa and its commitment to safeguarding global maritime routes.
