CJTF-HOA chaplain meets with Minister for Muslim Affairs

Photo By Sgt. Charles Siler | Mogue Samatar, the Djiboutian minister for muslim affairs, expresses his gratitude for the U.S.'s strength in supporting the needy in Djibouti during a meeting in his office, Dec. 10. Samatar was meeting with Chaplain (Cmdr.) Walt Denkins, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, to discuss the distribution of clothing and goods to the poor.  

12.11.2007

Story by Sgt. Charles Siler 

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa

By Army Sgt. Charles Siler
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Public Affairs

DJIBOUTI – The Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa chaplain met with the Minister for Muslim Affairs to strengthen their working relationship and coordinate the distribution of clothing and other goods to Djibouti's destitute at the minister's office in Djibouti, Dec. 10.

Chaplain (Cmdr.) Walt Dinkins, CJTF-HOA chaplain, has been meeting regularly with Mogue Samatar, the Djiboutian minister for Muslim Affairs, and they have formed a friendship around their religious convictions and mutual support.

It's important to go out into the community and meet with key religious and education leaders, and get a sense of the need in their areas, said Dinkins. This helps us determine how we can best respond to those needs.

"America is a great super-power, and we need their hand," said Samatar.

Through their collaboration, Samatar has been able to offer the chaplains access to certain areas they would otherwise be unable to access, and from that Samatar has been able to submit requests for civil projects from the U.S. Embassy.

"He has allowed my team to go into areas like the Gelala and Hariba Districts, and from that they have made a request to the embassy to have new schools, wells and concerns from the embassy," said Dinkins, "and that is all a result of our work with the minister and our cooperation."

While the two men are of different faiths, Dinkins, a presbyterian, and Samatar, a muslim, their religious differences have not impeded or disturbed their teamwork or progress.

"Our religion is not extreme, we are very moderate," said Samatar "We both worship one god, and our god is the same. We believe in all the same prophets.

"We do not get our religious ideas or orders from outside our country. Our friends are our friends, and no one else will decide that for us. What is good for us, we will welcome."

The goods which the chaplain's office donated are to be distributed to the poor through Mohamed Hersi, the director for waqfs for the Ministry of Muslim Affairs. A waqf is an Islamic charitable endowment.

The chaplain's visits are a small part of the overall efforts made in concert with CJTF-HOA in Africa to prevent conflict, promote regional stability, protect coalition interests and prevail against extremism.

"The HOA chaplain covers 11 of the 14 countries, if you count Praslin and La Digue, in the Seychelles island group," said Dinkins.

• Date Taken: 12.11.2007
• Date Posted: 12.11.2007 01:59
• Story ID: 14599