Erdogan uses trap of aid to fuel his greed for Niger's uranium

"Africa belongs to the Africans... We are not here for
your gold." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke these words
during a visit he made years ago to countries in Africa.
What he said was a prelude to Ankara’s incursion into Africa
to control its resources. This first started in Senegal, but then Turkey concluded
agreements with Niger to build military bases in Libya’s southern neighbor,
seeking to support the Government of National Accord (GNA) militias in Tripoli by
mobilizing new mercenaries from the south.
Military bases
On July 21, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoglu met Nigerien
President Mahamadou Issoufou, Prime Minister Brigi Rafini, and Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and Nigeriens Abroad Kalla Ankourao.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry revealed that Çavuşoglu’s visit
to Niger witnessed the signing of a military cooperation agreement between the
two countries, in addition to signing a financial aid protocol, a cooperation
agreement for military training, and a cooperation agreement in the field of
youth and sports.
The signing of military agreements with Libya's southern
neighbors is in support of the GNA militias. This agreement also enables the
Turkish government to gain access to the depths of Africa.
Media reports have confirmed that the Turkish regime signed
a military agreement with Niger and is preparing to announce similar agreements
with other countries bordering Libya, such as Chad, in the context of Ankara's
attempts to tighten its control over Libya and move into Africa.
Dominating Africa
Erdogan threw the bait of aid and investments, starting in
Senegal, where he has visited three times since 2016. Over the past ten years,
Turkey has become a commercial partner for Dakar in special infrastructure projects,
which reflects his expansionary and colonial ambitions. Ankara has obtained
bids to implement major infrastructure projects, including the construction of
the Abdo Diouf International Convention Center, the Dakar Sports Arena, and the
Radisson Hotel Dakar Diamniadio, in addition to the new city located 30 km from
the capital. Turkey has also participated in the implementation of the regional
express train and the management of Blaise Diagne International Airport for 25
years.
Ankara has strongly begun to infiltrate the uranium-rich
country of Niger, where the Turkish government initially invested through the
Soma Group and won huge contracts in the country, most notably the construction
of the new Niamey capital airport at a cost of €154 million. It also completed
construction work for the capital’s Radisson Blu Hotel at a value of
approximately €45 million, according to a report by the French website Le
Monde Afrique.
The Turkish company also won the construction tender for the
Ministry of Economy and Finance in Niger, with a value exceeding €31
million, as well as the renovation of the Conference Palace in Niamey for €6
million. But the real development there is aimed at bringing the uranium-rich
country under Turkish control and controlling the Imouraren mine, which
produces 5,000 tons of uranium per year, taking advantage of the closure of the
former Orano-Areva company after the price of uranium crashed in the global
market.