- Washington “follows with interest” Morocco’s openness onto Africa (John Kerry)Posted 11 years ago
- The trial of South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius opened in Pretoria on Monday.Posted 11 years ago
- USA welcomes efforts of King Mohammed VI in MaliPosted 11 years ago
- Egypt’s population reaches 94 millionPosted 11 years ago
- Mugabe celebrates his 90thPosted 11 years ago
- Moroccan Monarch to Build a Perinatal Clinic in BamakoPosted 11 years ago
- King Mohammed VI handed a donation of bovine semen for the benefit of Malian breeders.Posted 11 years ago
- Moroccan King’s strategic tour to Africa: Strengthening the will of pan African Solidarity and stimulating the south-south cooperation mechanisms over the continentPosted 12 years ago
- Senior al-Qaida leader killed in AlgeriaPosted 12 years ago
- Libya: The trial of former Prime Minister al-Baghdadi AliPosted 12 years ago
Niger: Could Economic pressures ease the transition to democracy?
The new military leaders who overthrew Niamey President Mamadou Tandja February 18 promised to restore democracy quickly. On 23 February they have appointed a civilian prime minister, Mahamadou Danda. The new head of state, Salou Djibou said: “no member of the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy (CSRD) or the transitional government would be a candidate in the upcoming presidential election”.
However, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and international donors are not yet convinced of the good intentions of the military.
Niger has very large reserves of uranium but the government will see its financial constraints increase as lenders will suspend their aid until the restoration of the constitutional order.
Immediately after the coup, it was thought that uranium had been able to play a role, because nuclear power is coming back into fashion and prices have increased. Today, this presumption proves to be wrong. Either the French group Areva, or the International China Nuclear Uranium Corporation are performing their normal activities. Areva’s annual production is about 3 000 tons from “Cominak” and “Somair” mines and hopes to produce 5 000 tons from the “Imouraren” mine in which it invests 1.2 billion Euros.
If these agreements were violated or new actions were or shall be taken with other investors, or seeking other partners, all would be detrimental to future international investments and existing operations… the coming months will prove the Junta intentions