Niger drone base

US invests $50m in Niger drone base for counterterrorism

The US already has a presence in the capital Niamey, where it shares an airbase with France's anti-Islamist force, Operation Barkhane.

MQ-9 Reaper drones are stationed there.

But the new facility, in the central city of Agadez, will give Washington greater ability to use drones against Islamist extremists in neighbouring countries like Libya, Mali and Nigeria.