US drone bases in Africa to focus on al-Qaida targets and Somalia

American unmanned vehicles based in Ethiopia, Seychelles and Arabian peninsula to target piracy and terrorism A network of drone bases in east Africa, designed to carry out attacks on al-Qaida targets and for gathering intelligence, is being constructed by the US, according to American reports. One base is being set up in Ethiopia , a key US ally in the Horn of Africa, the Washington Post said. Another installation has reopened in the Seychelles after a test “anti-piracy” programme proved unmanned “hunter-killer” craft could effectively patrol Somalia from there. Drones flown from a US military site in Djibouti have already been used in counter-terrorism missions in Somalia and Yemen. A new base to enable more flights over Yemen is under construction in the Arabian peninsula. The launch of the aggressive campaign around the Horn of Africa reflects increasing concern about the dangers posed by al-Qaida-linked affiliates in the region. By establishing several drone bases, the US hopes to create a wide ring of surveillance to monitor potential targets. ” We do not know enough about the leaders of the al-Qaida affiliates in Africa ,” a US official told the Wall Street Journal. “Is there a guy out there saying, ‘I am the future of al-Qaida’? Who is the next Osama bin Laden?” While al-Qaida operatives have used lawless Somalia as a hideout for more than 10 years, the current threat comes from the Islamist rebels trying to take over the country. Ethiopia has led the military response on the ground, invading Somalia in 2006 with the US providing intelligence, logistical help and financing. But al-Shabaab, a more militant, Islamist force, emerged, establishing links with al-Qaida and attracting hardened foreign jihadis and Somali men from the diaspora to its cause. The US has been talking to Ethiopia for several years about building a drone base. It also relies on Ethiopian linguists

Posted by on September 21, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.