Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, receiving close to $2 billion a year in official development assistance, according to the World Bank.
It is also a key security partner of Western countries such as France, the former colonial power, and the United States, which both use it as a base for their efforts to contain an Islamist insurgency in West and Central Africa’s Sahel region.
Previously seen the most stable country among several unstable neighbours, Niger is the world’s seventh-biggest producer of uranium.
Niger’s foreign allies so far have refused to recognize the new military government led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, previously head of the presidential guard, who officers declared head of state on Friday.
Bazoum has not been heard from since early Thursday when he was confined within the presidential palace, although the European Union, France and others say they still recognize him as the legitimate president.
“In addition to the immediate cessation of budget support, all cooperation actions in the domain of security are suspended indefinitely with immediate effect,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.
More bizarre paltering and attempts to change the meaning of my words.
Russia owns the supply chain for the uranium from central asia for the stuff china and the US doesn’t use. Just because they do the polluting and economically devistating part elsewhere (as france does in Niger) doesn’t meant there isn’t dependence on Rosatom and Russia.
Only one of those countries (the one with the smallest share) does not have a history (and present) of brutal exploitation by either france or russia or both.