China's stealthy adventures in Niger

China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC)has gained exploration rights to the uranium mine at Azelik in competition with nuclear-services giant Areva that has been mining in Niger for half a century, providing most of the fuel for the nuclear plants in France. New contracts demanded that limiting concessions be placed on foreign companies including CNNC and promises of increased infrastructural and agricultural investment, higher export taxes and greater government share of the uranium revenue. This opened a window of opportunity for China to invade the African uranium and other commodities markets, making it independent from the monopoly of the West, and become the power broker of the continent.