The French army have had a base in Djibouti for 130 years. Air base 188 houses french troops and aircraft, where military exercises are regularly carried out. "Djibouti is geographically very well placed" for the french, says Général Laurent Boïté. This footage is part of a series of reports on the airbase in Djibouti, filmed by AFP at the invitation of the French Army. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES