Little more than an army post, the settlement serves as a frontier station controlling travel between Niger and Libya.
[1] The army of Niger maintains a garrison of a hundred soldiers, depending on the 24th Interarmes Battalion from Dirkou.
Aerodrome Madama consists of a laterite track (21°57′0.10″N 13°39′2.13″E / 21.9500278°N 13.6505917°E / 21.9500278; 13.6505917) with a length of 1,300 metres (4,300 ft).
Aviation facilities will be added: a ramp and two parking areas for aircraft and helicopter pads.
In 2017, the A400M transport aircraft made its first operational mission to Niger after landing at Madama.