Niger stopped exporting uranium and gold to France

Niger has stopped exporting uranium and gold to France since Monday. Mehr News reports this with reference to the speech of General Omar (Abdurakhman) Tchiana, who last week led a military coup in the country and declared himself the new president.

The day before, the ECOWAC bloc, which unites 15 West African countries, imposed economic sanctions on Niger, including the suspension of all financial transactions in the event that the legally elected government of President Mohamed Bazum is not restored within a week, and Bazum himself is released. In particular, Niger has not received the bond payments of 51 million dollars scheduled for Monday.

Mass demonstrations under anti-French slogans are taking place in the cities of Niger. Many gathered, as noted, took to the streets with Russian flags and chanted the name of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Demonstrators attacked the French embassy in the country’s capital, Niamey, the day before and tried to set it on fire. Several wounded are reported.

The leaders of the countries of the ECOWAC bloc called for the restoration of constitutional order in Niger and did not rule out the possible use of forceful measures on their part.

• The military coup in Niger began on July 26. The Presidential Guard, under the leadership of its head, General Omar (Abdurakhman) Tchiana, blocked President Mohamed Bazum in his residence, where he is to this day. Tchyani proclaimed himself the new president.
• Niger is a former French colony, one of the poorest countries in the world, which annually received about 2 billion dollars in international aid. At the same time, the country is rich in natural resources, it accounts for about seven percent of the world’s uranium reserves. Gold, rare earth metals, oil and gas deposits are also mined.