US Agadez Drone Base In Niger To Cost At Least 50 Million

The United States is planning to invest in a military air base in the Northwest African country of Niger. The base will have the capacity of deploying drones and the investment reportedly stands at at least 50 million. The development of the new military base is expected to see the transfer of U.S. assets in the region from the U.S.'s shared air base with France's anti-Islamist force -- Operation Barkhane -- in Niger's capital city of Niamey to the new facility in the city of Agadez. This includes the MQ-9 Reaper drones. The new base, which will provide the U.S. greater access to Islamist extremists in neighboring countries like Libya, Mali and Nigeria, will cost the country an estimated 50 million, BBC quoted Michelle Baldanza, a spokeswoman for the Pentagon, as saying.