Following the military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in 2020, 2022, and 2023 respectively, the three countries have changed how they engage with the West. Among other things, the three Sahel states have reoriented away from Western mining companies, seeking more equitable terms for their vast gold, uranium, and lithium resources. Over the past year, Niger has revoked the mining license for France’s Orano to operate the IMOURAREN mine, one of the world’s largest uranium mines. Burkina Faso has followed suit, expropriating key British-owned gold mines. Instead of the West, these countries have turned to Russia, China, and Turkey for mining investment. For instance, China’s state-owned Ganfeng opened a lithium mine in Mali’s southern region last December. While Western influence has waned, experts say it is not lost entirely, as longstanding cultural and linguistic ties could still pave the way for renewed cooperation on more balanced terms.
Source: DW