Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan, earlier this week, led a delegation to Niger to discuss uranium supplies, Bloomberg reported. The delegation “wants to tap Nigerien supplies of the fissile mineral to fuel Turkey’s nascent nuclear-power industry,” it said. The two parties agreed to boost cooperation on energy, mining, intelligence, and defense, at a time Niger saw its ties with its traditional western partners worsen following the military coup. Niger, following the example of its neighbors, Mali and Burkina Faso, has asked western troops to leave the country, while building a stronger alliance with Russia. French Le Monde also confirmed the deal between Iran and Niger, noting that the mine in Arlit where concentrated uranium is abundant is extracted by French company Orano.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 21, 2024 19:16 UTC