Hundreds march in Niger
2007-09-08 18:01
Niamey - Hundreds of people in Niger
marched on Saturday to demand the departure of French nuclear
giant Areva, which they accuse of backing a rebellion in the
uranium-rich north of the former French colony.
The Tuareg-led Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ) has killed
at least 45 government soldiers and taken dozens hostage since
launching a campaign in February to demand more development for
the region around the ancient Saharan trading town of Agadez.
Niger's north contains some of the world's largest reserves
of uranium and Areva, which has for decades enjoyed a monopoly
in the country, has two mines in the region which supply
France's nuclear industry.
Niger's authorities have accused Areva of helping to fund
the rebels and earlier this year declared the company's country
director persona non grata.
The French firm denies the allegations.
"We are asking President Mamadou Tandja and the government
purely and simply to expel Areva and to nationalise its
subsidiaries operating here," said Nouhou Arzika, president of
the "Citizens' Movement" which staged the march.
"No sacrifice is too big to safeguard national unity."
Niger's government policy is to increase the number of
foreign firms mining uranium in the north, part of an effort to
break the French monopoly and win better terms for the
exploitation of its mineral resources.
The government has awarded dozens of exploration permits to
Chinese, Canadian, European and other foreign firms in recent
months.