The United States has a drone base in Djibouti , at the southern tip of the Red Sea -- on the opposite side of the continent from Mali . Niger says it 's agreed to let U.S. drones operate from its territory . The United States has been flying surveillance missions over the region for years, but they have not had any success in stopping militants who are believed to be hiding out among nomadic Tuareg tribes and other ethnic groups U.S. official says intelligence-gathering in that part of Africa is a challenge .
Niger says it 's agreed to let U.S. drones operate from its territory . The United States has been flying surveillance missions over the region for years, but they have not had any success in stopping militants who are believed to be hiding out among nomadic Tuareg tribes and other ethnic groups U.S. official says intelligence-gathering in that part of Africa is a challenge .