Niger’s military government has announced the nationalisation of the country’s sole industrial gold mine, accusing its Australian operator of “serious breaches” as the junta seeks greater control of natural resources.
The military junta has ruled the West African nation since seizing power in a 2023 coup, promising to crack down on Niger’s myriad security issues.
Juntas in Niger, neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali have ramped up pressure on foreign mining companies in recent years, with Niger nationalising the local branch of French uranium giant Orano in June.
It’s a military dictatorship, that wealth is going to the military leadership, and no one else.
No, that’s not how it works. Previously, all of the wealth was going to Australian imperialists and a few compradors, now that wealth stays within Niger. Through opposing Australian imperialism and nationalizing industry, Niger gets to use that wealth on developing themselves, which is in the interests of the proletariat of Niger. This is a fantastic thing, and you’re finger-wagging them for kicking out the imperialists.
I’m saying that a dictatorship never cares about the people.
Because Niger is a military dictatorship not a communist utopia.
At best, that wealth will be spent on a lavish palace that will be used by the general and only the general.
At worst, it will buy weapons that will be used to further subjugate the people.
We follow the money and we will know, right? If they start getting new infrastructure we know the guy is for real.
The money is being concentrated in Gen Tiani’s hands, and nowhere else.
He’s abandoned much of the country to Jihadists, while only securing the capital…
Although that’s technically not true, he’s brought in mercenary units from other countries, including the Wagner Group, (the Russian neo-Nazi brigade that tried to coup Putin)
Tiani has given the mercenaries free rein in the countryside, as long as they help protect his capital.
And like any other dictatorship, the war against the media has been intense, with even random bloggers being disappeared off the street.
Easy money is made by making a corrupt backroom deal with Australia so they can plunder the mine for pennies on the dollar.
Kicking out the colonists is a risky move which isn’t good for short term profits which is what an exploitative government always seeks.
Does this make the Junta 100% epic good and based? No. But this specific action is good.