Niger’s military-led government is doubling down on resource nationalism, awarding copper and lithium mining permits to local firms as part of a broader, Sahel-wide push to reduce reliance on Western companies. The move echoes similar strategies in Mali and Burkina Faso, fellow junta-led states, which also favor domestic control and courting non-Western allies like China, Russia, and even Iran. However, experts warn that poor security, limited technical expertise, and restricted export routes—such as Niger’s closed border with Benin—could hamper progress. While symbolic moves like revoking France’s uranium license mark a shift in alliances, the path to true mineral independence remains uncertain. Nonetheless, the region’s vast resources promise a new era of geopolitical and economic recalibration.
Source: DW
