Armed drones flying in Niger to expand U.S. role in Africa

The government of Niger has given the Defense Department permission to fly armed drones out of the Nigerien capital, Niamey, Pentagon officials said Thursday.

Pentagon officials want to start the flights within days. The flights would mark a significant expansion of the U.S. military's footprint in Africa.

A memorandum of understanding between the United States and Niger, which was finalized this week, calls for the remotely piloted aircraft to be armed by the military's Africa Command at the Nigerien air base in Niamey, where they are currently deployed without arms.

The drones, the memo says, will eventually be moved to a Nigerien air base in Agadez, where U.S. troops also will be deployed. Pentagon officials said the new mission likely would significantly increase the number of U.S. troops in Niamey, from the 800 who are there now. About 500 of those troops now deployed in Niger would move to the base in Agadez.

"This operation supports the long-term strategic partnership between the United States and Niger, as well as the ongoing effort to counter violent extremism throughout the region," the Defense Department said in an emailed response to a query.

"The government of Niger and the U.S. stand firm in working together to prevent terrorist organizations from using the region as a safe haven," said Maj. Audricia Harris, a Defense Department spokesman.

The Pentagon has been trying for two years to get permission from the Nigerien government to put precision-guided bombs and missiles on a fleet of Reapers to be flown out of Niamey. Pentagon officials say the drones would expand the military's ability to go after extremists in West Africa.

Such an area of operations for the drones would allow the military to target fighters affiliated with al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, Boko Haram and the Islamic State group, officials said.

While the United States has been able to reach Yemeni, Somali and Libyan targets from bases in Djibouti and southern Italy, its reach in West Africa has been more limited.

The American action follows a deadly ambush Oct. 4 of an Army Special Forces team and 30 Nigerien troops, which resulted in a two-hour firefight outside the village of Tongo Tongo near the Malian border.

Four Americans and four Nigeriens were killed, and two Americans and six Nigeriens were wounded.

A Section on 12/01/2017

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