Sahel States push for mineral independence, seek new economic path

Military governments in the Sahel are steering their nations toward greater control over mineral extraction as part of a broader strategy to diversify economies and reduce reliance on foreign companies.

In Niger, a draft decree adopted by the Council of Ministers has recently granted to Niger-owned Compagnie Minière de Recherche et d’Exploitation (COMIREX SA) a permit for the Moradi uranium mine and to another local company, Compagnie Minière de l’Aïr (COMINAIR SA), a license to extract copper in a bid to boost its economy. Niger’s new mining ventures, including a copper mine in Agadez and the Moradi uranium mine, mark a shift toward national control of valuable resources.

The military government, led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani and that took power in a coup in 2023, aims to reduce dependence on Western firms like France’s Orano, which previously controlled Niger’s uranium production. By awarding stakes to state-owned companies, the government hopes to generate jobs and revenue while asserting economic sovereignty.

Similar trends are unfolding in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, where military governments are pursuing anti-Western policies, seeking new alliances, and growing their mining industries. Ulf Laessing, head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s Sahel regional program in neighboring Mali, said that it was too early to predict how successful the project will be. Niger is following a trend seen in Burkina and Mali, Laessing noted, adding that in the latter two Sahel States, military governments rely more on local companies, rather than on Western ones.

Mali, a major gold producer, is demanding higher royalties from foreign companies, while Burkina Faso focuses on copper and zinc. The Sahel’s mineral-rich states are also increasingly turning to China and Russia for support, signaling a shift in global partnerships as these nations attempt to reclaim control over their economic resources.