4.4 AREA OF DISCORD WITH FRANCE
In 1970, French monopoly of uranium exploitation was broken
and Japan was included in the venture with 30% of financing, and France having
70% of exploit uranium at Akokan, 12 miles south of Arlit (Agadez). The first
signs of discount appear in 1972 when President Hamani Diori confronted France
and demanded more clear independence with the existing realities. The uranium
exploitation by French companies was painfully slow. Te government of Niger
complained that it was intentional while the French denied it and argued that
the demand for uranium was declining.
A request by Niger that trade with Nigeria be helped by
allowing certain transactions of frozen CFA payments for cattle and beef
through French firms based in Nigeria was not accepted by
France.27
The president of National Assembly, Boubou Hama, openly
accused the French of being behind the students' unrest and this elicited a
strong protest from the French Ambassador.28 Relations between the
two countries had become so stained that when President Hamani Diori went to a
summer vacation in Paris suburb the same year, the French made it clear that
the President will not be invited to luncheon at the «Champs
Elysées» Palace.29 On the occasion of President
Pompidou's visit to the country in January 1973, President Diori spoke of his
country's desire to diversify its trade partners. He criticized the
«out-dated methods of aid, which were unresponsive to the changing needs
of African countries.30
Since 1973, Niger government had been trying hard to
renegotiate the uranium agreement so that Niger's participation in the profit
could be raised. Te French apparently were not willing to grant this
concession. A government spokesman disclosed in a very pessimistic tone the
real situation. He said,
Niger produces enough uranium to supply more than ten times
its own energy needs and yet, only a few miles from the mine, people were dying
from hunger. Niger would have to re-examine the whole uranium question with its
partners to that, each side received a fair share of the profits. Uranium is an
inherited source of wealth, just like oil; either it allows us to finance
economic development or we will leave it where it is, so as not to dissipate
this inheritance uselessly. We don't want one day to have to show the holes of
our children and say «there was uranium here but, it's
finished.31
After the overthrow of President Hamani Diori's regime,
relations between the two countries further deteriorated. The Head of the
French military mission in Niamey, Major Langlois d'Estai was expelled. The
Niger government charged that the Major had to many subversive contacts.
Lieutenant Colonel Seyni Kountché even refused to see a senior French
Army officer. Kountché said,
This decision, (the withdrawal of French troops from Niamey),
we took it far from all evident obvious or latent with respect to the French
Republic; far from any arrogance with respect to these people of France from
which we share the culture and humanism, and of which we appreciate his right
value the contest how much beneficial our efforts of development. We took it,
to put an end as well as anarchism for France as for France and for us. And,
has especially, we took it, because having choosing our national independence
since this historical date of the year of grace, 1960, it is for us who it
falls without damage, has the concluding of agreements in conformity with the
international practices, to ensure only the safety of our borders if as well is
as they are likely external threats.
The people of Niger are not people of beggars. This is not
because Niger counts only 4 million inhabitants and that its one of the poorest
countries which one should not respect us as a sovereign state.32
Finally, in December 1974, the French companies agreed in
principle on increased Nigerien participation. Previous to that, Niger's
participation in SOMAIR was only 15%. France is the main buyer of Niger's
uranium. In 1973, France took 93.6 % of Niger's uranium export.
33
By April 1975, new agreement was signed with France,
according to which, Niger's share was increased to 33% in the uranium company,
SOMAIR.
In August 1972, President Hamani Diori asked for a division
of bilateral agreement called «Accords de Cooperation» which had
existed since 1961. He demanded that these, be revised to favor Niger.
Unfortunately, it did not materialize before the overthrow of his
government.
The crucial change in foreign relations was the ending of
Defense Agreement with France. On May 16th, 1974, the new government
(under General Seyni Kountché) of Niger ordered the 270 strong French
Detachment to leave the country as soon as possible. The communiqué
issued said a foreign military presence impugned on the country's sovereignty.
Yet, so anxious was the government of Niger to maintain friendly relations with
France that the Head of State announced that the move was not motivated by
hostility to France.34
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