CAMP LEMONNIER COURT-MARTIAL DEFENSE LAWYER
MILITARY JUSTICE
Camp Lemonnier Court-Martial and UCMJ Defense
From courts-martial and Boards of Inquiry to other UCMJ defense and administrative actions, these are the cases I handle for service members at Camp Lemonnier. Click any area below to learn more.
Court-Martial Defense at Camp Lemonnier: What You Need to Know
Courts-Martial at Camp Lemonnier
Three types of courts-martial can be convened for service members at Camp Lemonnier. A summary court-martial handles minor offenses and can impose limited punishments, including confinement and reduction in rank. A special court-martial handles mid-level offenses and can result in confinement, forfeiture of pay, and a bad-conduct discharge. A general court-martial handles the most serious offenses. It can impose lengthy confinement, a dishonorable discharge, and other severe penalties.
If you are facing a court-martial at Camp Lemonnier, the prosecution has likely been building its case before you were ever charged. You need a defense lawyer who can match that preparation. You need someone with the trial experience to fight in the courtroom — not just negotiate behind closed doors.
Convening Authorities at Camp Lemonnier
Camp Lemonnier is a U.S. Navy installation operated by Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central (CNREURAFCENT) under U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). The base hosts Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), which oversees U.S. military operations across East Africa. Because AFRICOM’s service component commands are based in Europe — U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) in Vicenza, Italy; U.S. Air Forces Africa (AFAF) at Ramstein Air Base, Germany; and U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF) at Naples, Italy — the convening authority for your case may be located outside Africa. The General Court-Martial Convening Authority is typically the AFRICOM commander or the service component commander. The Special Court-Martial Convening Authority is typically the CJTF-HOA commander or the Camp Lemonnier commanding officer.
Cases originating at Camp Lemonnier may be handled in-theater or deferred until redeployment. Even when proceedings are delayed until you return stateside, statements, evidence, and decisions made at Camp Lemonnier often shape the entire case. A skilled defense lawyer can engage with the convening authority early. Before charges are referred, there may be an opportunity to advocate for your interests, present mitigating evidence, or persuade the command to take a different path.
The Office of Special Trial Counsel
Under recent military justice reforms, certain cases are now handled by the Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC). These include sexual assault offenses, domestic violence, and related crimes. The OSTC operates independently from the chain of command. An independent special trial counsel decides whether to refer these cases to court-martial — not your commanding officer.
This means that for certain offenses, the convening authority no longer controls whether your case goes to court-martial. Having a civilian defense lawyer who understands how the OSTC process works is critical if you are facing these types of charges at Camp Lemonnier.
Board of Inquiry and Administrative Separation
Not every adverse action goes through a court-martial. The Navy and Marine Corps can process you for administrative separation through a Board of Inquiry or an Administrative Separation Board. A Board of Inquiry is used for officers. An Administrative Separation Board is used for enlisted sailors and Marines. These boards can end your military career. They can also determine your discharge characterization, which affects your veterans’ benefits and future employment.
You have the right to a lawyer at these proceedings. A civilian defense lawyer who understands the administrative separation process can cross-examine witnesses, present evidence, and argue for your retention or an honorable discharge.
Article 15 / Non-Judicial Punishment at Camp Lemonnier
Article 15 proceedings, also known as Non-Judicial Punishment, allow your commanding officer to impose discipline without a court-martial. At Camp Lemonnier, your command can impose an Article 15 for minor offenses. If you accept an Article 15, you give up your right to a court-martial. In return, you limit the maximum punishment your command can impose.
You have the right to consult with a defense counsel before accepting an Article 15. You also have the right to demand a court-martial instead. A defense lawyer can help you weigh your options and can advocate for a reduction in punishment during the proceeding.
Why You Need a Civilian Defense Lawyer
The Navy provides defense counsel through the Defense Service Office (DSO). At Camp Lemonnier, DSO attorneys serve service members across the installation and the broader U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. These attorneys are dedicated defense lawyers, but they are often overloaded with cases and may rotate assignments during your case. As a civilian defense lawyer, I am not subject to reassignment or deployment cycles. I am with you from start to finish. I bring independence from the military chain of command and years of trial experience defending service members. You deserve a lawyer who has the time, focus, and experience to give your case everything it deserves.
I have defended service members at courts-martial and administrative boards at the only permanent U.S. military base on the African continent — and I know that your rights under the UCMJ do not stop at the water’s edge. I know how the military justice system works. I know the commands, the convening authorities, and the procedures. When everything you have worked for is on the line, you need a lawyer who has the experience, independence, and fight to stand with you.
About Camp Lemonnier
Camp Lemonnier is a United States Naval Expeditionary Base located adjacent to Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport in Djibouti City, Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa. It is the only permanent U.S. military base on the African continent and the operational headquarters for Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA). The 600-acre installation sits at one of the most strategically important crossroads in the world — the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the 30-kilometer-wide chokepoint that controls maritime traffic between the Red Sea, the Suez Canal, and the Gulf of Aden. The base is operated by Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central (CNREURAFCENT) via U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF) and Commander, Navy Installations Command. The airfield is shared with Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport, featuring a single asphalt runway measuring 3,150 meters. Djibouti’s broader strategic significance is reflected in its hosting of multiple foreign military bases — France, Japan, Italy, Spain, and China all maintain installations within a few kilometers of Camp Lemonnier, making the country one of the most militarily diverse host nations in the world.
The camp was originally established as a base for the French Foreign Legion and later operated by the French 5th Overseas Task Force (5th RIAOM). It is named after General Émile-René Lemonnier, a French commander in Indochina who was executed by Japanese forces in 1945 for refusing to sign a surrender. After Djibouti’s independence from France in 1977, the facility was operated by the Djiboutian Armed Forces. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the United States sought a forward operating base in East Africa to conduct counter-terrorism operations. In 2002, the U.S. leased the camp from Djibouti, and in November 2002, the CJTF-HOA staff — a Marine-based organization — arrived off the coast of Djibouti aboard USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20). In May 2003, CJTF-HOA moved ashore to Camp Lemonnier. On July 1, 2006, the U.S. Marine Corps turned over responsibility for Camp Lemonnier to the U.S. Navy. In January 2007, the U.S. and Djiboutian governments signed a lease agreement expanding the camp from 88 acres to nearly 500 acres. On October 1, 2008, Camp Lemonnier was realigned from U.S. Central Command to U.S. Africa Command as AFRICOM assumed authority over the region. In 2014, the U.S. and Djibouti signed a 20-year lease agreement securing the U.S. presence at Camp Lemonnier.
Today, approximately 4,000 U.S., joint, and allied military, civilian, and contractor personnel live and work at Camp Lemonnier, supported by approximately 300 U.S. Navy sailors and civilians and approximately 1,000 local and third-country national workers. The installation supports 38 tenant commands, including CJTF-HOA, Special Operations Command Africa Forward, the 449th Air Expeditionary Group, Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron detachments, U.S. Marine Security Forces, U.S. Navy Seabee battalions, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance squadrons. Aviation assets include UH-60 Black Hawk, CH-53 Super Stallion, MV-22 Osprey, KC-130J, and P-8 Poseidon aircraft. Missions include counter-terrorism operations against al-Shabaab and al-Qaeda affiliates in Somalia and Yemen, counter-piracy, maritime security, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, special operations, humanitarian assistance, and military partnership-building with regional armed forces. CJTF-HOA’s area of responsibility includes Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Seychelles, and Kenya.
For military justice, courts-martial, Boards of Inquiry, and administrative separation proceedings at Camp Lemonnier fall under the AFRICOM chain of command, with service component commands based in Europe — SETAF-AF in Vicenza, AFAF at Ramstein, and NAVAF at Naples. The AFRICOM commander or service component commander typically serves as the General Court-Martial Convening Authority. The CJTF-HOA commander or Camp Lemonnier commanding officer typically serves as the Special Court-Martial Convening Authority. The Navy provides assigned defense counsel through the Defense Service Office. Camp Lemonnier’s status as the only permanent U.S. military base in Africa, its position at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, its role hosting counter-terrorism and maritime security operations across East Africa, and its unique status as a Navy-led joint installation in a strategically vital host nation make it one of the most important forward operating locations in the U.S. military.
For more information about legal operations in AFRICOM, see our AFRICOM Court-Martial Defense Lawyer page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of cases do you handle at Camp Lemonnier?
I handle courts-martial, Boards of Inquiry, administrative separation boards, Article 15 / Non-Judicial Punishment proceedings, military investigations, and UCMJ defense for service members at Camp Lemonnier. My primary focus is court-martial defense. This includes serious offenses such as sexual assault, drug offenses, fraud, and violent crimes under the UCMJ. Cases originating at Camp Lemonnier may be handled in-theater or deferred until redeployment, but statements and evidence gathered at the base often shape the entire case.
Do you represent all branches at Camp Lemonnier?
Yes. Camp Lemonnier is a joint installation with Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard personnel assigned to CJTF-HOA and tenant commands. I represent service members from every branch facing military discipline anywhere in the world.
Why should I hire a civilian defense lawyer instead of the DSO?
The Navy provides defense counsel through the Defense Service Office (DSO). At Camp Lemonnier, DSO attorneys serve service members across the installation and the broader U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. These attorneys are dedicated defense lawyers, but they are often overloaded with cases and may rotate assignments during your case. As a civilian defense lawyer, I am not subject to reassignment or deployment cycles. I am with you from start to finish. I bring independence from the military chain of command and years of trial experience defending service members. You deserve a lawyer who has the time, focus, and experience to give your case everything it deserves.
What is a Board of Inquiry?
A Board of Inquiry is an administrative proceeding used to separate officers from the Navy. The board reviews allegations of misconduct or substandard performance. It can recommend separation with a specific discharge characterization. You have the right to a lawyer at a Board of Inquiry. A skilled civilian defense lawyer can cross-examine witnesses, present evidence, and argue for your retention or an honorable discharge.
Can you help with Article 15 at Camp Lemonnier?
Yes. I can review the evidence against you, advise you whether to accept the Article 15 or demand a court-martial, and advocate for a reduction in punishment during the proceeding. Article 15 punishments can include restriction, forfeiture of pay, reduction in rank, and extra duties. Having a lawyer involved early can make a significant difference in the outcome.
I’m under investigation — what should I do?
Do not make any statements to investigators, your chain of command, or anyone else about the allegations without consulting a lawyer first. You have the right to remain silent under Article 31(b) of the UCMJ. Contact a defense lawyer immediately. The earlier I get involved, the more I can do to protect you. This includes conducting an independent investigation, engaging with the command before charges are referred, and building a defense strategy from day one.
Can you help with sexual assault allegations under the UCMJ?
Yes. Sexual assault allegations under Articles 120, 120b, and 120c of the UCMJ are among the most serious charges a service member can face. These cases carry severe penalties, including lengthy confinement and sex offender registration. Under recent reforms, the Office of Special Trial Counsel now handles these cases independently from the chain of command. I have experience defending sexual assault cases in the military. I understand the unique evidentiary and procedural issues these cases involve. If you are facing a sexual assault allegation at Camp Lemonnier, you need a defense lawyer who knows how to fight these specific charges.
How quickly can you get to Camp Lemonnier?
I can travel to Djibouti if absolutely necessary – and as soon as necessary. However, courts-martial and administrative boards may be held in Europe or another redeployment home station. When you contact me, I will work with you to establish a timeline that meets your needs. I have spent years defending service members at courts-martial and administrative boards around the world, and I am ready to step in when you need me.
Talk to a Camp Lemonnier Military Defense Lawyer Now
If you are facing a court-martial, Board of Inquiry, administrative separation, or any UCMJ action at Camp Lemonnier, do not wait. The prosecution is already building its case. You need a defense lawyer who is ready to fight for you.