Uranium mining is responsible for the emergence of several armed conflicts in Africa

Studies tend to show that uranium mining alone is not a factor conducive to the emergence of conflicts. However, if uranium mining is associated with the presence of disadvantaged ethnic groups in the same territory, then the risk of armed conflict increases.

For the French, the words "uranium" and "Africa" immediately bring to mind the country of Niger. Niger has indeed been subject to armed conflicts in the past, especially in the Arlit region, where uranium mining was sometimes among the demands of the warring parties. However, generalizing the situation in Niger to the rest of Africa would be risky to say the least.

The role of pre-existing ethnic conflicts

The study Does Uranium Mining Increase Civil Conflict Risk? by Carlo Koos and Mathias Basedeau, shows that uranium mining in and of itself is not a significant factor in the emergence of armed conflicts in Africa. However, it does show that the combination of disadvantaged groups and uranium mines in the same region can contribute to the emergence of armed conflicts. The study nevertheless points out that the link could only be demonstrated in the case of Niger, despite four other case studies presenting such a conjunction [1].

The case of Niger

In order to understand the role of uranium in the armed conflicts in Niger, it is first necessary to understand the preponderant role of this resource in the Nigerien economy. Uranium constituted 35% of Niger's exports from 2010-2019 [2]. In addition to the fundamental role of uranium in the national economy, there is also the significant geographical fact that uranium deposits in Niger are mainly located in historically Tuareg areas. The arrival of uranium mines in the region has raised great hope for the Tuareg populations. Quickly disappointed, the latter consider they do not benefit sufficiently from the exploitation of their region’s subsoil, despite the fact that they suffer the main externalities [3]. 

It is therefore the combination of two phenomena that have made uranium an important issue in the region's ethnic conflicts: a resource that constitutes the area's main financial windfall and the presence of a disadvantaged ethnic group.