Niger and the United States have signed an agreement authorizing the arming of US drones deployed in the country, announced the New York Times. The Americans had been pushing for the drones for several years, but it was Tongo Tongo's ambush, in which four members of the special forces had died on 4 October, which helped unblock the situation. Officially 800 American soldiers are deployed on the ground, but their number could thus increase, Niger becoming the second country of Africa from where the Americans will be able to launch attacks with its drones after Djibouti.

In recent days, the Nigerian authorities agreed, it was missing a signature. It is now done. The Pentagon will be able to arm its drones in Niger.

Today they are based in Niamey, but the Americans are building a more discreet base in the North, in Agadez. It is expected to be operational in 2018, but work has been delayed.

The US military usually employs between three and six drones from Niamey Airport, as needed. Essentially Reaper, but Predator has also been seen in regional exercises.

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