Treacherous Nigerian regime announced readiness to host US killer drones

The puppet Nigerian regime has announced country’s readiness to host an airbase for American drones to help the United States’ spying operations in Africa.

“If Niger has an opportunity to receive support in the shape of aircraft or drones to monitor suspicious movements from Mali, we will not turn our nose up at it,” Defense Minister Karidjo Mahamadou said on Wednesday.

However, he said he had no information on any deal between his country and the US regarding the deployment of American drones in Niger.

The comments came after anonymous US officials said on Monday that the US military command in Africa (AFRICOM) was preparing plans to establish the base for the unmanned aircraft, which would likely be located in western Niger.

The officials also said the base would be used for flying reconnaissance drones only, though they have not ruled out conducting missile strikes at some point in the future.

If the plan is carried out, it would represent another instance of the expansion of the US presence in Africa. The Pentagon recently announced plans to put specialized army troops in 35 African countries.

According to the US officials, if the plan for the drone base is approved, up to 300 US military service members and contractors could be sent to the base to operate the drones.

Niger is a mostly desert country on the eastern border of Mali, where France has launched a war under the pretext of halting the advance of fighters who control the north of the West African country.

“This is directly related to the Mali mission, but it could also give AFRICOM a more enduring presence for I.S.R. (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance),” one US military official said on Sunday.

On January 28, the US and Niger inked a deal providing legal safeguards for any American forces in the country.

The US military has one permanent base in the east African country of Djibouti.

In October, the Washington Post reported that each day about 16 US drones take off from the base in Djibouti.

Washington uses assassination drones in several countries, claiming that they target “terrorists.” According to witnesses, however, the attacks have mostly led to massive civilian casualties.