Obama administration established U.S. drone base in Africa approved by Niger
Reuters
NIAMEY- Niger has given permission for U.S. surveillance drones to be stationed on its territory to improve intelligence on al Qaeda-linked Islamist fighters in northern Mali and the wider Sahara, a senior government source said.
The U.S. ambassador to Niger, Bisa Williams, made the request at a meeting on Monday with President Mahamadou Issoufou, who immediately accepted it, the source said.
“Niger has given the green light to accepting American surveillance drones on its soil to improve the collection of intelligence on Islamist movements,” said the source, who asked not to be identified.
The drones could be stationed in Niger’s northern desert region of Agadez, which borders Mali, Algeria and Libya, the source said.
A spokesperson for the United States’ African Command (AFRICOM) declined to comment.
The United States already has drones and surveillance aircraft stationed at several points around Africa. Its only permanent military base is in the small country of Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, more than 3,000 miles (5,000 km) from Mali.
After her talks with Issoufou, Williams told reporters they had discussed economic and military cooperation and development issues. She also expressed Washington’s appreciation for the French-led military mission to expel an alliance of al Qaeda-linked fighters from northern Mali.
French and Malian troops retook control of the ancient trading town of Timbuktu on Monday, as they drove deep into the heart of the desert region the size of Texas seized by Islamist fighters last year.
Washington has provided military transport planes to airlift men and equipment into Mali but said it will not send combat troops.
The head of the U.S. Africa Command, General Carter Ham, visited Niger last month. The poor, landlocked West Africa state has said it wants to have closer security cooperation with Washington. (Reporting by Abdoulaye Massalatchi, Additional reporting by John Irish in Paris; Writing by Daniel Flynn. Editing by Jeremy Gaunt.)
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Video: US plans to set up a base for drones in Northwest Africa
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Presentation on the Role and Mission of United States Africa Command at Howard University
Howard University’s Ralph Bunch International Affairs Center hosted a presentation by General Carter F. Ham, commanding officer of the U.S. Africa Command, Thursday, January 24, 2013.
The Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center was established in 1993 to serve as a focal point for Howard University’s numerous international activities and interests. The Bunche Center is home to the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program. The Rangel Program is a collaborative effort between Howard University and the U.S. State Department that seeks to attract and prepare outstanding young people for careers as diplomats in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State.
About Howard University
Howard University is located in Washington, DC and was founded in 1867. Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges with an enrollment of nearly 11,000. The Howard University charter as enacted by Congress and subsequently approved by President Andrew Johnson on March 2, 1867, designated Howard University as “a University for the education of youth in the liberal arts and sciences.” The Freedmen’s Bureau provided most of the early financial support of the University. In 1879, the United States Congress approved a special appropriation for the University. The charter was amended in 1928 to authorize an annual federal appropriation for construction, development, improvement and maintenance of Howard University.
Howard also produces more on campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States.
Source: Howard University
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Presentation on the Role and Mission of United States Africa Command
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Video: AFRICOM Mission of Africa Command – What and Why at Howard University
Full Presentation –Thursday, January 24, 2013
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General Carter Ham, U.S. AFRICOM Commander, here visiting troops during one of his many trips to the continent, says AFRICOM’s prime focus is on assisting African partners with their efforts to build their capacity to improve the development of their security and defense capabilities. According to Ham, the mission of U.S. Africa Command is to “advance the United States security interests in Africa, and we think we do that best by strengthening the defense capabilities of African countries so that they are increasingly capable of providing for their own defense and of contributing to regional security and stability.”
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Barack Obama, as a U.S. Sentor from the State of Illinois, sponsored 137 bills from January 4,2005 until November 16, 2008. Two became law.
One that became law was the following:
S.2125 Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act of 2005
Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act of 2006
Click below to read law. Click your back arrow to return to Dilemma X
Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act of 2005
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 12/16/2005)
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 109-456
Cosponsors (12)
Sen Brownback, Sam [KS] – 12/16/2005
Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] – 6/19/2006
Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] – 6/19/2006
Sen Dayton, Mark [MN] – 6/29/2006
Sen DeWine, Mike [OH] – 12/16/2005
Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] – 12/16/2005
Sen Inhofe, James M. [OK] – 4/24/2006
Sen Johnson, Tim [SD] – 6/29/2006
Sen Landrieu, Mary L. [LA] – 6/29/2006
Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] – 4/24/2006
Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. [CT] – 6/29/2006
Sen Mikulski, Barbara A. [MD] – 6/29/2006
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Related articles see links:
December 26, 2012
President Obama builds up U.S. military presence in 35 of the 57 African nations
https://dilemma-x.net/2012/12/26/president-obama-builds-up-u-s-military-presence-in-35-of-the-57-african-nations/
January 3, 2011
Obama to increase engagement with Africa in 2011
https://dilemma-x.net/2012/07/15/president-barack-obama-and-mitt-romney-their-views-on-africa/
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Dilemma X 
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