Slavery in Niger

Recently I commented on how the Nigerien government is attacking the Tuaregs for the sake of uranium explotation and I also mentioned then that it silences and tolerates the practice of slavery.

Now I read that a former slave is suing for the first time the government for failing to apply the 2003 law that was supposed to end with this practice.

The woman, who had among other tasks that of being sex-slave of her master was eventually liberated but, when she married the man of her choice, she was accused of bigamy by her former master and sentenced to six months of prision.

According to local rights group Timidria there are still some 43,000 slaves in Niger. The government tries to minimize the figure.

Niger and the Tuareg

Tuareg Culture and News blog has an interesting article on the seldom heard of dramatic situation of Niger and specially Tuaregs in this country. What is on the stake for President Tandja (formerly leader of the military junta) is the free explotation of the bountiful uranium mines in the Sahara, displacing the Tuaregs and exhausting their wells, as well as getting an excuse to change the constitution and extend his mandate indefinitely.

France-backed Niger remains one of the most autocratic states in Africa, where slavery still exists and where freedom of speech is virtually unheard of. It is a situation very similar to that of Darfur but it's not almost touched by the media, partly because of Tandja's success in banning free press, specially in the Tuareg territory.

References:
- Wise Uranium: New Uranium mining projects in Niger.