Camp Lemonnier falls under the structure of Commander Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia; which is responsible for the base’s expansion, upkeep, and logistics support.

The camp originally belonged to the artillery of the French 5th Overseas Task Force. After negotiations in 2001, the Djiboutian government allowed for the base's use by the U.S. military. Today, Camp Lemonnier serves as a key location from which U.S. and Coalition forces operate in the Horn of Africa.