US to invest $ 50 million in the construction of the base for drones in Niger

US authorities invest a minimum of $ 50 million in the construction of a military base in Niger to unmanned aerial vehicles, which are designed to carry out counter-terrorism activities, said on Friday the BBC broadcasting company BBC referring to Pentagon spokesman Michel Baldansu.

US Units are already present at the Air Force base in the capital, Niamey, Niger with the French departments that are involved in Barkhane operations against Islamist groups. In particular, there are based combat UAVs MQ-9 Reaper.

The new base near the city of Agadez in the same province will give the Pentagon more opportunities to attack the extremists in neighboring countries, in particular in Libya, Mali and Nigeria. Michelle Baldansa confirmed that the United States has agreed to pay for the construction of Agadez new runway, "linking the pavements, administrative and farm buildings, and infrastructure." As expected, the project that "will become the largest US military construction in Africa", will be completed in 2017.

A Pentagon spokesman said that the estimated cost of the works is 50 million dollars. However, information publication Intersept previously informed that similar work will cost the Pentagon twice as expensive.

Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones used by the US military for aerial reconnaissance, as well as attacks on places that represent the greatest risk or complexity for the job on manned aircraft, said Bi-bi-si.