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.
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.
Say that in a year when it’s revealed that the Junta is using slave labor in the mine that they seized.
Military dictatorships are never good for the people. Full stop. We have thousands of years of examples of militaristic rulers, from warlords to kings. Every single time someone seizes power in a coup, the people suffer for it.