r/Africa • u/fhgku • 1d ago

African Discussion 🎙️ Sahel at a tipping point as Islamist insurgency spirals out of control

https://theafrican.co.za/featured/sahel-at-a-tipping-point-as-islamist-insurgency-spirals-out-of-control-0d765c7c-c989-4ecb-a40d-bc6ce18c4e10/
52 Upvotes

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5

u/NewEraSom Somali American 🇸🇴/🇺🇸 1d ago

“Islamist” is a loaded term that get thrown around easily.

But anyway, the biggest news from the region is Niger nationalizing their uranium mines https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/frances-orano-says-it-has-lost-control-uranium-mine-niger-2024-12-04/

Good news for the Sahel. Niger’s economy set to grow 6% in the next year thanks to this move.

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u/MixedJiChanandsowhat Senegal 🇸🇳 22h ago

Niger’s economy set to grow 6% in the next year thanks to this move.

Not at all. Niger's GDP growth has always been expected to grow above 4-5% even prior the coup. And Niger doesn't have electricity nor any industry, nor even half of the required qualified workers to manage a uranium mine. There isn't 5 countries on the continent able to manage a uranium mine without foreign help or control but you believe that one of the 5 poorest nations of the planet has?

France through Orano lost the right of exploitation and Canada lost the right for future exploitations. Another foreign country will take those rights or the mines will close.

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u/fhgku 20h ago

It is truly heartbreaking.

9

u/fhgku 1d ago

Yes and a time where African countries are gaining true independence, there is a push across the Sahel to take more land by jihadist. Niger is facing very serious threats