US military leaders visit Niger’s Air Base 201

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General Thomas D. Waldhauser?, Commander, U.S. Africa Command, visited Niger Armed Forces’ Air Base 201 to meet with U.S. troops, members of the Forces Armées Nigériennes (FAN), and local civilian leaders on 1 November. He was accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Niger Eunice S. Reddick.

“We are here at the request of and in close coordination with Nigerien government leaders to assist them in making improvements to Air Base 201,” said Gen. Waldhauser. “Niger remains a strong and reliable counterterrorism partner, and we remain committed to helping Niger protect its borders.”

Amb. Reddick commented that “U.S. government policy in Niger aims to solidify democratic, transparent, and accountable government, as well as to provide Niger with important development and humanitarian assistance to improve the country’s resilience. The U.S. government’s ongoing support also helps Niger counter regional security threats.”

In terms of development assistance, Amb. Reddick pointed to the recently approved $437 million Millennium Cha?llenge Corporation Compact, which will focus on enhancing Niger’s agriculture, irrigation and related infrastructure, delivering benefits to as many as three million Nigeriens. The ambassador also noted that USAID continues to assist Niger’s parliament and Nigerien political parties to improve responsiveness and promote inclusive government.
“The location of Air Base 201 in Agadez will improve our collective ability to facilitate intelligence sharing that better supports Niger and other regional partner nations, including Cameroon, Chad, Mali, and Nigeria in addressing shared security threats. It will also improve our collective capability to respond to regional security issues,” the United States military’s Africa Command said.
“The United States remains committed to deepening our development and security cooperation relationships throughout Africa, including by assisting our African partners in protecting their borders and fighting terrorism.”

Late last month the United States military said it is building a $100 million temporary base for surveillance drones in Agadez, central Niger, to help the West African country combat militant groups and protect its borders.

Niger, a security ally of the West, is grappling simultaneously with incursions from jihadist group Boko Haram across its southern border with Nigeria as well as roaming al Qaeda-linked groups in its vast desert spaces.

Security sources have also expressed concern about a possible southern influx of Islamic State fighters into Niger and Chad from Libya where they are retreating from Libyan forces.
“At the request of, and in close coordination with, the Government of Niger, United States Africa Command is establishing a temporary, expeditionary cooperative security location in Agadez, Niger,” said a U.S. Africa Command spokesperson in an emailed response to Reuters.
“Agadez is an ideal, central location to enable ISR collection (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) to face the security threat across the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin region,” she said. The $100 million covered initial costs for construction, fuel and equipment.

Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou was re-elected in March having promised to boost security in the poor, semi-arid state. However, the southern region of Diffa, which borders the Boko Haram stronghold in northeastern Nigeria, is still in a state of emergency and subject to regular attacks.

The United States first said it was considering establishing a drone facility adjacent to an existing Agadez airbase in 2014.

The new facility is the latest example of the United States’ deepening military ties with the fragile Sahel region, a semi-arid band stretching from Senegal to Sudan.

In May, it signed a defence deal with Senegal to ease the deployment of troops to the country.

France also has strong military ties with Niger, including a base in northern Niger, and has 3,500 troops spread across the Sahel combating Islamist fighters.