Military Governments in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso Target Foreign Mining Firms

Military governments in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso are targeting foreign mining companies, notably Chinese and French. They are enforcing regulations and nationalizations aimed at localizing resource benefits. Recent actions include the expulsion of Chinese firms and the nationalization of a French uranium mine, reflecting a strategy potentially supported by Russia.

In the nations of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, military governments are actively working to diminish foreign competition within the mining sector. In a notable incident from March, the Nigerien government accused several Chinese oil companies, including China National Petroleum Corp and Soraz Zinder Refining Company, of breaching local mining regulations, which led to their forced withdraw from the country.

These companies had previously participated in establishing a pipeline facilitating oil exports from Niger to Benin. The government’s accusations came following multiple incidents of sabotage against crude oil transport facilities, culminating in an explosion on March 12 near the Dankasari area of Dosso region.

The Nigerien authorities claimed that the companies had contravened a military administration decree aimed at ensuring “priority allocation of resources for the benefit of the people of Niger.” They specifically highlighted issues pertaining to an inequitable wage system, neglect of local supplier quotas, lack of training for local employees, and failure to transfer necessary technology.

In a similar vein, earlier in 2024, Niger’s government nationalized the uranium assets of Orano SA, a French firm, while in Mali, officials detained executives from Barrick Gold Corp. along with the confiscation of gold from their Loulo-Gounkoto mine. These actions are indicative of a broader strategy enacted by the military regimes across the Sahel region, which is reportedly receiving covert support from Russia. This endeavor reflects an intent to solidify control over valuable resources, a facet of greater Russian interests in Africa, symbolized by the emerging concept of “Russian peace, African style.”

The military governments in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso are taking decisive actions to marginalize foreign mining competitors, notably from China and France. By enforcing nationalization and accusing foreign companies of regulatory violations, these regimes aim to secure resources for local populations while simultaneously emphasizing their strategic alignment with Russian interests in the region. This shift may drastically alter the landscape of the African mining sector in the coming years.

Original Source: odessa-journal.com