Battle in a Poor Land for Riches Beneath the Soil

Africa's natural resources – oil, diamonds and now uranium – immediately invite conflict among factions. Increased energy needs of emerging economic giants like China and India, as well as the rising interest in nuclear power as an alternative energy source due to climate change, increase global demand for uranium. On paper, increased trade profits would seem a huge benefit to Niger, one of the poorest countries in the world. However, local grievances over use of export income threaten the nation's shaky foundations, with rebel fighters forming cohesive opposition. Government officials decry the rebels' taking up of arms, emphasizing that grievances are to be aired at the ballot box; meanwhile, the rebels shrewdly use free press and employ lobbyists in Western countries, going so far as creating an official web site. While this is a story of economic and trade concerns, it is also one of democracy. Young Africans are increasingly urban and tech-savvy, explains Lydia Polgreen for the New York Times, resulting in informed citizens who may be “less willing to tolerate the corruption that has squandered so much of Africa’s potential." –YaleGlobal