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NIAMEY - Niger has granted seven more exploration licences of uranium to seven foreign companies, in the Agadez region (north), theatre for a year of a Tuareg rebel army, it was learned Saturday.
The authorities estimate that 32 million in investment and tax revenues that should generate work for three years.
Some 500 jobs and community infrastructure will also be created for the benefit of local people, the statement added.
Thanks to the recent rise in price of uranium, which had collapsed in 1980, especially in the wake of the decision of China to develop civil nuclear power, the Nigerian authorities have decided to diversify their partners in the 'mining of ore.
Thus, in August 2007, Niger had already issued 29 permits research and exploitation of uranium to new companies, ending 40 years of near monopoly of the french group Areva on the exploration, exploitation and sale of its uranium.
In addition to the two deposits that operates in the North, Areva btained permission in January to invest more than 1 billion euros to operate a giant site Imouraren extraction.
With production of almost 5,000 tons of uranium per year, Imouraren, estimated at 200,000 tons, will place the Niger second in the world by 2011.
The Rest (in French) @ APA Agence de Presse Africaine
Showing posts with label Uranium. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Uranium. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
M-N-J (MNJ) Promises to Step up attacks in Niger
The following article was posted in France by a media outlet that has been accused byt the Niger government of having direct connections to the NMJ leadership. Possible conclusion from the article and other related traffic:
Paris - Niger's Tuareg rebels will attack uranium mines and convoys in a new phase of their battle against the industry, a leading figure in the rebellion warned in an interview published on Thursday.
The Tuareg Movement of Nigeriens for Justice (MNJ) can mobilise up to 1 000 fighters under military chief Aghali Alambo, the leader of the rebellion Rhissa Ag Boula told French weekly Le Nouvel Observateur.
"We are going to attack the uranium mines, including those of (French nuclear giant) Areva, to stop factories functioning, prevent the exploitation of new quarries, and seize the cargo that is en route to the sea," he said.
"You can't exploit uranium without us," he warned.
Poor and restive Niger finds itself sitting on a surprising treasure trove of uranium. The west African state on the edge of the Sahara is the world's third largest producer of an element whose price has soared.
Areva is Niger's top private employer and has operated two uranium mines in the country for the past 40 years.
The stakes are particularly high for former colonial power France: three-quarters of the nuclear-powered electricity produced by its main electricity company EDF uses uranium imported from Niger.
In April last year, MNJ rebels attacked Areva's biggest uranium project in Niger, demanding better application of the economic aspects of the 1995 peace agreements that ended the first Tuareg rebellion.
The MNJ says peace will not return to the north of Niger without better integration of Tuaregs into the army, paramilitary corps and the local mining sector. Since February 2007 it has carried out attacks on military targets in the area.
Rhissa Ag Boula said this new phase of the Tuareg rebellion would soon see the rebels occupy a dozen urban centres in the uranium-rich north, such as Agadez, Arlit, Iferouane, and In Gall.
"There will be legislative and presidential elections in 2009. This will all happen before then," he said.
President Mamadou Tandja, who refuses to negotiate with the MNJ, in November extended by three months a state of emergency that has reinforced the army's powers in the conflict zone.
The Tuaregs are a grouping of nomadic tribes who have roamed the Sahara since centuries before the countries of the region gained independence from colonial powers.
The Rest @ News 24
- The MNJ has been a nationalist rebel group, generally without Islamist objectives
- Islamist Jihadists often practice a perceived quranic and Hadith requirement to warn their enemies to repent before they attack.
- In the last year before other attacks, MNJ has initatied this practice
- This warning was released 12 days ago
- therefore attaks on Areva and other Uranium interests in Niger may be iminent
Paris - Niger's Tuareg rebels will attack uranium mines and convoys in a new phase of their battle against the industry, a leading figure in the rebellion warned in an interview published on Thursday.
The Tuareg Movement of Nigeriens for Justice (MNJ) can mobilise up to 1 000 fighters under military chief Aghali Alambo, the leader of the rebellion Rhissa Ag Boula told French weekly Le Nouvel Observateur.
"We are going to attack the uranium mines, including those of (French nuclear giant) Areva, to stop factories functioning, prevent the exploitation of new quarries, and seize the cargo that is en route to the sea," he said.
"You can't exploit uranium without us," he warned.
Poor and restive Niger finds itself sitting on a surprising treasure trove of uranium. The west African state on the edge of the Sahara is the world's third largest producer of an element whose price has soared.
Areva is Niger's top private employer and has operated two uranium mines in the country for the past 40 years.
The stakes are particularly high for former colonial power France: three-quarters of the nuclear-powered electricity produced by its main electricity company EDF uses uranium imported from Niger.
In April last year, MNJ rebels attacked Areva's biggest uranium project in Niger, demanding better application of the economic aspects of the 1995 peace agreements that ended the first Tuareg rebellion.
The MNJ says peace will not return to the north of Niger without better integration of Tuaregs into the army, paramilitary corps and the local mining sector. Since February 2007 it has carried out attacks on military targets in the area.
Rhissa Ag Boula said this new phase of the Tuareg rebellion would soon see the rebels occupy a dozen urban centres in the uranium-rich north, such as Agadez, Arlit, Iferouane, and In Gall.
"There will be legislative and presidential elections in 2009. This will all happen before then," he said.
President Mamadou Tandja, who refuses to negotiate with the MNJ, in November extended by three months a state of emergency that has reinforced the army's powers in the conflict zone.
The Tuaregs are a grouping of nomadic tribes who have roamed the Sahara since centuries before the countries of the region gained independence from colonial powers.
The Rest @ News 24
Thursday, January 31, 2008
MNJ Threaten's to escalate attacks on Uranium Mines
NIAMEY, Jan 31 (Reuters) - A leader of Niger's Tuareg rebels promised on Thursday an all-out offensive against the uranium industry including attacks on foreign-run mines and mineral convoys.
Over the last 12 months, the Niger Justice Movement (MNJ) has attacked army convoys and bases, killing around 50 soldiers. This has forced Niger's government to impose a state of alert in the north of the Sahelian country, a major producer of uranium which is used to fuel nuclear reactors.
"We are going to attack the uranium mines, including those belonging to Areva, halt the operation of the plants or the opening up of new sites, and target the road shipments to the sea," Tuareg leader Rhissa Ag Boula told French newspaper Le Nouvel Observateur.
Last year MNJ fighters attacked a northern mine site operated by French nuclear group Areva and also briefly abducted a Chinese uranium executive.
The rebels are demanding more autonomy and a greater share of wealth in their uranium-rich northern region.
A Niger government spokesman rejected the threat in comments to Radio France International. President Mamadou Tandja's administration refuses to recognise the light-skinned nomadic desert rebels, dismissing them as "armed bandits".
Ag Boula criticised the Niger government for "handing out uranium concessions like buns" to companies from France, Canada, Australia, India, South Africa and China.
China had obtained a major part of the new concessions and the Chinese "build mining cities, bringing their own workers with them".
China was selling landmines, vehicles and tanks to the Niger government, Ag Boula said in the interview.
The Rest @ Reuters Africa
Over the last 12 months, the Niger Justice Movement (MNJ) has attacked army convoys and bases, killing around 50 soldiers. This has forced Niger's government to impose a state of alert in the north of the Sahelian country, a major producer of uranium which is used to fuel nuclear reactors.
"We are going to attack the uranium mines, including those belonging to Areva, halt the operation of the plants or the opening up of new sites, and target the road shipments to the sea," Tuareg leader Rhissa Ag Boula told French newspaper Le Nouvel Observateur.
Last year MNJ fighters attacked a northern mine site operated by French nuclear group Areva and also briefly abducted a Chinese uranium executive.
The rebels are demanding more autonomy and a greater share of wealth in their uranium-rich northern region.
A Niger government spokesman rejected the threat in comments to Radio France International. President Mamadou Tandja's administration refuses to recognise the light-skinned nomadic desert rebels, dismissing them as "armed bandits".
Ag Boula criticised the Niger government for "handing out uranium concessions like buns" to companies from France, Canada, Australia, India, South Africa and China.
China had obtained a major part of the new concessions and the Chinese "build mining cities, bringing their own workers with them".
China was selling landmines, vehicles and tanks to the Niger government, Ag Boula said in the interview.
The Rest @ Reuters Africa
MNJ Threaten's to escalate attacks on Uranium Mines
NIAMEY, Jan 31 (Reuters) - A leader of Niger's Tuareg rebels promised on Thursday an all-out offensive against the uranium industry including attacks on foreign-run mines and mineral convoys.
Over the last 12 months, the Niger Justice Movement (MNJ) has attacked army convoys and bases, killing around 50 soldiers. This has forced Niger's government to impose a state of alert in the north of the Sahelian country, a major producer of uranium which is used to fuel nuclear reactors.
"We are going to attack the uranium mines, including those belonging to Areva, halt the operation of the plants or the opening up of new sites, and target the road shipments to the sea," Tuareg leader Rhissa Ag Boula told French newspaper Le Nouvel Observateur.
Last year MNJ fighters attacked a northern mine site operated by French nuclear group Areva and also briefly abducted a Chinese uranium executive.
The rebels are demanding more autonomy and a greater share of wealth in their uranium-rich northern region.
A Niger government spokesman rejected the threat in comments to Radio France International. President Mamadou Tandja's administration refuses to recognise the light-skinned nomadic desert rebels, dismissing them as "armed bandits".
Ag Boula criticised the Niger government for "handing out uranium concessions like buns" to companies from France, Canada, Australia, India, South Africa and China.
China had obtained a major part of the new concessions and the Chinese "build mining cities, bringing their own workers with them".
China was selling landmines, vehicles and tanks to the Niger government, Ag Boula said in the interview.
The Rest @ Reuters Africa
Over the last 12 months, the Niger Justice Movement (MNJ) has attacked army convoys and bases, killing around 50 soldiers. This has forced Niger's government to impose a state of alert in the north of the Sahelian country, a major producer of uranium which is used to fuel nuclear reactors.
"We are going to attack the uranium mines, including those belonging to Areva, halt the operation of the plants or the opening up of new sites, and target the road shipments to the sea," Tuareg leader Rhissa Ag Boula told French newspaper Le Nouvel Observateur.
Last year MNJ fighters attacked a northern mine site operated by French nuclear group Areva and also briefly abducted a Chinese uranium executive.
The rebels are demanding more autonomy and a greater share of wealth in their uranium-rich northern region.
A Niger government spokesman rejected the threat in comments to Radio France International. President Mamadou Tandja's administration refuses to recognise the light-skinned nomadic desert rebels, dismissing them as "armed bandits".
Ag Boula criticised the Niger government for "handing out uranium concessions like buns" to companies from France, Canada, Australia, India, South Africa and China.
China had obtained a major part of the new concessions and the Chinese "build mining cities, bringing their own workers with them".
China was selling landmines, vehicles and tanks to the Niger government, Ag Boula said in the interview.
The Rest @ Reuters Africa
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Le Mouvement des Nigeriens pour la Justice (MNJ), Threatens Areva's Uranium Mining Operation
NIAMEY, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Tuareg-led rebels in Niger accused French uranium miner Areva on Monday of financing a government offensive and warned of "grave consequences" for its staff and installations.
The French government-controlled company has been caught in the middle of a rebellion launched in February by nomadic tribesmen in the Saharan north of Niger where it mines uranium.
Areva was not immediately available for comment on Monday.
In July Niger's government barred the head of Areva's operations in Niger from the country, accusing the company of backing rebels. French President Nicolas Sarkozy intervened to calm the dispute and shortly afterwards Areva made an advance payment of more than $30 million to the Niger government.
But in a posting on its Web site www.m-n-j.blogspot.com on Monday, the rebel Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ) accused Areva of helping fund the government's war effort and of failing to hire enough local people from the desert regions where it operates.
"We inform Areva that from now on all its operations are regarded as illegal," the group said, adding that Areva "is exposing its staff as well as its installations to grave consequences."
It said that by continuing to sign deals with the Niger government, Areva was contributing financial means which "contribute to the war effort".
The Rest @ Reuters Africa
The French government-controlled company has been caught in the middle of a rebellion launched in February by nomadic tribesmen in the Saharan north of Niger where it mines uranium.
Areva was not immediately available for comment on Monday.
In July Niger's government barred the head of Areva's operations in Niger from the country, accusing the company of backing rebels. French President Nicolas Sarkozy intervened to calm the dispute and shortly afterwards Areva made an advance payment of more than $30 million to the Niger government.
But in a posting on its Web site www.m-n-j.blogspot.com on Monday, the rebel Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ) accused Areva of helping fund the government's war effort and of failing to hire enough local people from the desert regions where it operates.
"We inform Areva that from now on all its operations are regarded as illegal," the group said, adding that Areva "is exposing its staff as well as its installations to grave consequences."
It said that by continuing to sign deals with the Niger government, Areva was contributing financial means which "contribute to the war effort".
The Rest @ Reuters Africa
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Areva Aquires Central African Republic Uranium Mine
Mon 22 Oct 2007, 15:09 GMT
By Paul-Marin Ngoupana
BANGUI, Oct 22 (Reuters) - A uranium mine in Central African Republic was acquired by France's Areva group without the consent of the CAR government, which is seeking a negotiated settlement with the company, President Francois Bozize said.
In an interview published on Sunday in the latest edition of Jeune Afrique magazine, Bozize said his country would take the matter to the courts if it did not reach an agreement with the French nuclear technology giant over the Bakouma mine.
In July, Areva, a French state-owned group whose activities range from uranium mining to nuclear reactors and waste recycling, said it had taken control of Canadian-listed miner UraMin whose assets included an exploration contract for Bakouma.
But the Central African Republic is contesting Areva's takeover of the Bakouma contract as "irregular", arguing the terms of the deal previously signed with UraMin required the CAR government's consent for any change.
"Areva went on to acquire UraMin without our consent. So that's where the blockage is," Bozize told Jeune Afrique.
"It's out of the question for our national patrimony to be bandied about in a game between capitalists on the London Stock Exchange. This is beyond the comprehension of the people of Central African Republic," he added.
Bozize indicated his country expected Areva to offer improved terms or some kind of additional payment for taking over the Bakouma contract.
"Well, we're negotiating with Areva ... if that doesn't reach a conclusion, we'll look to our lawyers, but I don't think that is in the group's interests," he told Jeune Afrique.
Bozize said other African countries like Niger and Namibia had obtained newly negotiated deals from the French company, which has said that deposits identified by UraMin in South Africa, Namibia and the Central African Republic will increase Areva's uranium output by around 7,000 tons annually after 2012.
Fresh comment from Areva on Monday was not immediately available.
The Rest @ Reuters Africa
By Paul-Marin Ngoupana
BANGUI, Oct 22 (Reuters) - A uranium mine in Central African Republic was acquired by France's Areva group without the consent of the CAR government, which is seeking a negotiated settlement with the company, President Francois Bozize said.
In an interview published on Sunday in the latest edition of Jeune Afrique magazine, Bozize said his country would take the matter to the courts if it did not reach an agreement with the French nuclear technology giant over the Bakouma mine.
In July, Areva, a French state-owned group whose activities range from uranium mining to nuclear reactors and waste recycling, said it had taken control of Canadian-listed miner UraMin whose assets included an exploration contract for Bakouma.
But the Central African Republic is contesting Areva's takeover of the Bakouma contract as "irregular", arguing the terms of the deal previously signed with UraMin required the CAR government's consent for any change.
"Areva went on to acquire UraMin without our consent. So that's where the blockage is," Bozize told Jeune Afrique.
"It's out of the question for our national patrimony to be bandied about in a game between capitalists on the London Stock Exchange. This is beyond the comprehension of the people of Central African Republic," he added.
Bozize indicated his country expected Areva to offer improved terms or some kind of additional payment for taking over the Bakouma contract.
"Well, we're negotiating with Areva ... if that doesn't reach a conclusion, we'll look to our lawyers, but I don't think that is in the group's interests," he told Jeune Afrique.
Bozize said other African countries like Niger and Namibia had obtained newly negotiated deals from the French company, which has said that deposits identified by UraMin in South Africa, Namibia and the Central African Republic will increase Areva's uranium output by around 7,000 tons annually after 2012.
Fresh comment from Areva on Monday was not immediately available.
The Rest @ Reuters Africa
Friday, October 19, 2007
Published: 19-OCT-06
Bangui - President Francois Bozize of the Central African Republic (CAR) has opened the country's first major uranium mining concern, run by the South African firm UraMin, state radio reported Wednesday.
The site, which officially opened on Tuesday is in the Bakouma basin, about 100 kilometres north of the northwestern town of Bangassou. In a speech there Bozize said that previously the mineral resources of CAR "have been exploited in an informal and chaotic fashion".
"If everybody does their job properly, there will be benefits for the state and for the population of Bakouma ... by way of roads that are being built, the electricity that will be supplied, schools and hospitals that will be constructed," he said, according to the radio.
On its website, UraMin said that the South African company "has agreed to acquire a 90 percent interest in a mineral exploitation licence over the project area for an investment of $27mn", which also covers a 12-month exploration period.
The remaining 10 percent stake is held by the CAR state.
Opening the facility and speaking in the Sango national language, Bozize chastised politicians whom he said had "begun to whisper ... and spread lies about the UraMin company."
When parliament legislated late in August for the exploitation and export of radioactive minerals, opposition deputies objected that there were insufficient environmental guarantees in the UraMin project and sought in vain to obtain publication of the convention signed by the state and the company.
Some members of parliament asked for details of the sums paid to the CAR by UraMin, while the local press published reports of unexplained payments into foreign bank accounts.
Minister of Mines Sylvain Ndoutingai said that when the mining deal was signed, UraMin paid one billion CFA francs ($1.9mn) to the state.
The presence of uranium at Bakouma was first brought to light in 1947, when the CAR was under French colonial rule. Deposits were exploited to a limited extent in the 1960s and 1970s, but never on a substantial commercial scale.
The Rest @ Business Africa
Bangui - President Francois Bozize of the Central African Republic (CAR) has opened the country's first major uranium mining concern, run by the South African firm UraMin, state radio reported Wednesday.
The site, which officially opened on Tuesday is in the Bakouma basin, about 100 kilometres north of the northwestern town of Bangassou. In a speech there Bozize said that previously the mineral resources of CAR "have been exploited in an informal and chaotic fashion".
"If everybody does their job properly, there will be benefits for the state and for the population of Bakouma ... by way of roads that are being built, the electricity that will be supplied, schools and hospitals that will be constructed," he said, according to the radio.
On its website, UraMin said that the South African company "has agreed to acquire a 90 percent interest in a mineral exploitation licence over the project area for an investment of $27mn", which also covers a 12-month exploration period.
The remaining 10 percent stake is held by the CAR state.
Opening the facility and speaking in the Sango national language, Bozize chastised politicians whom he said had "begun to whisper ... and spread lies about the UraMin company."
When parliament legislated late in August for the exploitation and export of radioactive minerals, opposition deputies objected that there were insufficient environmental guarantees in the UraMin project and sought in vain to obtain publication of the convention signed by the state and the company.
Some members of parliament asked for details of the sums paid to the CAR by UraMin, while the local press published reports of unexplained payments into foreign bank accounts.
Minister of Mines Sylvain Ndoutingai said that when the mining deal was signed, UraMin paid one billion CFA francs ($1.9mn) to the state.
The presence of uranium at Bakouma was first brought to light in 1947, when the CAR was under French colonial rule. Deposits were exploited to a limited extent in the 1960s and 1970s, but never on a substantial commercial scale.
The Rest @ Business Africa
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Exelon buys 300 Tonnes from Niger
NIAMEY, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Niger has sold 300 tonnes of uranium to U.S. nuclear power group Exelon Corp for at least 20 billion CFA francs ($41.71 million) in its first direct sale to the market, Mines Minister Mohamed Abdoulahi said.
The sale, announced on state television late on Monday, is the first to bypass French state-controlled nuclear group Areva, which agreed a few weeks ago to give Niger 300 tonnes of uranium in 2007 to sell on the open market.
Areva operates both Niger's existing uranium mines, located in the Saharan north, and the company has to date exported the entire production, paying the government a fixed royalty per tonne.
Areva's 36-year-old monopoly has been under pressure from the Niger government, which has accused Areva of backing Tuareg-led rebels and banned the company's top in-country official from its territory as it continues to hand out prospecting licences to mining companies from other countries.
Niger produced around 3,500 tonnes of uranium concentrate -- known as yellow cake in the trade, and containing around 75 percent uranium metal -- in 2006, but the mines ministry expects output to double in the next four years as two new mines open.
The Rest @ Reuters Africa
The sale, announced on state television late on Monday, is the first to bypass French state-controlled nuclear group Areva
Areva operates both Niger's existing uranium mines, located in the Saharan north, and the company has to date exported the entire production, paying the government a fixed royalty per tonne.
Areva's 36-year-old monopoly has been under pressure from the Niger government, which has accused Areva of backing Tuareg-led rebels and banned the company's top in-country official from its territory as it continues to hand out prospecting licences to mining companies from other countries.
Niger produced around 3,500 tonnes of uranium concentrate -- known as yellow cake in the trade, and containing around 75 percent uranium metal -- in 2006, but the mines ministry expects output to double in the next four years as two new mines open.
The Rest @ Reuters Africa
Sunday, August 26, 2007
The following article suggests that the the Niger government believes that other North Africa Countries, specifically Libya and Sudan, have influence with MNJ rebels currently active in Northern Nigger.
-Shimron
By Abdoulaye Massalatchi
NIAMEY, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Niger's prime minister and senior military officials left for Sudan and Libya on Saturday to seek help ending an insurgency by Tuareg-led rebels in the country's remote desert north, a senior army source said.
President Mamadou Tandja declared a state of alert in the region around the ancient Saharan town of Agadez on Friday, giving the security forces extra powers to fight the 7-month-old insurgency in which at least 45 soldiers have been killed.
Prime Minister Seyni Oumarou, the deputy head of the armed forces, General Seyni Garba, and other senior officers left for Khartoum on Saturday and would travel on to Libya, the government said in a statement.
"The president has charged them with a mission to encourage all states (in the region) concerned by the question of arms trafficking to lend their help bringing an end to the conflict in the north of Niger," a senior military official told Reuters.
"President Tandja has reaffirmed that this is not a rebellion but a movement of bandits backed by interest groups and foreign powers. He believes countries around the Sahara can do something to force them to lay down their weapons."
Tandja's government refuses to recognise the Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ), which has claimed a series of deadly attacks against military targets and industrial interests in the region since launching a campaign in February.
The group says it is fighting for greater economic development and a share in the region's mineral wealth. Government officials say to recognise and negotiate with the MNJ would be to give them a legitimacy they do not merit.
Security sources say they believe MNJ fighters are receiving ammunition, weapons and fuel supplies via the ancient trading routes which criss-cross the Sahara from Sudan in the east, Libya and Algeria in the north, to Mali in the west.
The north of Niger, an impoverished and landlocked former French colony, has long been a hotbed of dissent. Light-skinned Tuareg tribesmen waged a rebellion in the 1990s to demand greater autonomy from a black-African dominated government.
The region is home to some of the world's biggest reserves of uranium. French nuclear giant Areva operates two mines there and other foreign firms are prospecting.
Read the rest for how it got this way @ Reuters Africa
-Shimron
By Abdoulaye Massalatchi
NIAMEY, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Niger's prime minister and senior military officials left for Sudan and Libya on Saturday to seek help ending an insurgency by Tuareg-led rebels in the country's remote desert north, a senior army source said.
President Mamadou Tandja declared a state of alert in the region around the ancient Saharan town of Agadez on Friday, giving the security forces extra powers to fight the 7-month-old insurgency in which at least 45 soldiers have been killed.
Prime Minister Seyni Oumarou, the deputy head of the armed forces, General Seyni Garba, and other senior officers left for Khartoum on Saturday and would travel on to Libya, the government said in a statement.
"The president has charged them with a mission to encourage all states (in the region) concerned by the question of arms trafficking to lend their help bringing an end to the conflict in the north of Niger," a senior military official told Reuters.
"President Tandja has reaffirmed that this is not a rebellion but a movement of bandits backed by interest groups and foreign powers. He believes countries around the Sahara can do something to force them to lay down their weapons."
Tandja's government refuses to recognise the Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ), which has claimed a series of deadly attacks against military targets and industrial interests in the region since launching a campaign in February.
The group says it is fighting for greater economic development and a share in the region's mineral wealth. Government officials say to recognise and negotiate with the MNJ would be to give them a legitimacy they do not merit.
Security sources say they believe MNJ fighters are receiving ammunition, weapons and fuel supplies via the ancient trading routes which criss-cross the Sahara from Sudan in the east, Libya and Algeria in the north, to Mali in the west.
The north of Niger, an impoverished and landlocked former French colony, has long been a hotbed of dissent. Light-skinned Tuareg tribesmen waged a rebellion in the 1990s to demand greater autonomy from a black-African dominated government.
The region is home to some of the world's biggest reserves of uranium. French nuclear giant Areva operates two mines there and other foreign firms are prospecting.
Read the rest for how it got this way @ Reuters Africa
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