Niger to host German military base

Germany has announced its intention to set up a military base in Niger.

According to Germany’ ambassador to Niger the base will support the UN peace stabilization mission in Mali since Niger is a key country in the fight against terrorism and illegal immigration from West Africa.

This announcement comes five months after the visit of the German’s foreign Affairs minister Frank Walter Steinmeier in Niamey alongside his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault.

The two diplomats had visited Niger’s anti-terrorism headquarters alongside Niger’s interior minister Mohamed Bazoum.

The German ambassador recalled his country’s readiness to help solve the numerous security threats in the Sahel region adding that German chancellor Angela Merkel will visit Niger on a yet to be announced date.

Germany is the third western power to set up a military base in Niger after France and the United States.