By: Claudia Carbone
About Town Magazines
By: Andrew Coe
Saveur
By: Laura Levy Shatkin
Chicago Tribune
By: Mona de Crinis
Desert Magazine
By: Laura Levy Shatkin
About Town Magazines
By: Carol Perehudoff
Wandering Carol
Article Provided By: Julie Tully
TRANSLATED
As the sun set on the last day of May, members of the Forces Armées Djiboutiennes and United States military gathered at the residence of Captain (U.S. Navy) John Tully, Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché, U.S. Embassy Djibouti, for an Iftar. The evening highlighted a sharing of cultures and friendship between the two nations. As part of the program, Captain Tully arranged for Commander (U.S. Navy) Abuhena Saifulislam, Deputy Command Chaplain for United States Africa Command, to be in attendance and preside over the prayers. Commander Saifulislam is one of only two Muslim chaplains in the United States Navy.
“Tonight’s Iftar was an opportunity for our two countries to come together on a very human level, through food and fellowship,” said Captain Tully. “We wanted to honor our host nation and their observance of Ramadan, while sharing a bit of both cultures.”
Breaking the day’s fast with dates brought in from California and enjoying a meal that included both Djiboutian and American cuisine, the night was enjoyed by all in attendance.
Pictured, left to right: Ms. Christina Higgins, Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy Djibouti; Brigadier Howard Purcell, Deputy Commander, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa; General Hassan Ali Kamil, Forces Armées Djiboutiennes; Captain John Tully, Senior Defense Official/Defense Attache, U.S. Embassy Djibouti; and Commander Abuhena Saifulislam, Deputy Command Chaplain, U.S. Africa Command. (Photo credit: TSgt Andria Allmond, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa)