All right, Alexander, let's do an update on the developing situation in Niger.

There are reports that the ECOWAS countries are preparing some sort of intervention.

There are reports that there was some sort of diplomatic effort between ECOWAS representatives and the Niger military junta.

They came out with a three-year timeline to get Niger back to some sort of acceptable democracy

for the ECOWAS nations, but that wasn't accepted by the ECOWAS countries.

And we have the United States, which has not really taken a position one way or another.

It does look like they're going to be supporting France, or they're going to be backing France in France's push to get the ECOWAS countries to intervene.

And we have France.

They're deteriorating situation in Niger, but all throughout Africa.

Where do you want to begin?

Let let us begin with what's happening in Niger because it's now quite clear that there is an impasse.

I mean, ECOWAS has been very, the ECOWAS states are very divided about intervening in Niger, but it's clear that the pressure on them to do so from France, and I'm pretty sure the United States and other Western countries is extremely strong.

I mean, we've discussed many times how Niger is seen as too important to the West, simply for the West to let it go.

Oh, that's a mistake, by the way.

I think that ultimately, if Niger was left alone, it would come to terms with the West.

I mean, they have to sell their uranium

and their lithium to someone. And why not to their established customers? I mean, they,

what it seems to me they would want to do is to sell it at a better price. But, well, that's

commerce. That's what you do. I mean, you know, you deal, you come to arrangements.

It's not going to bring the entire Western world crashing down, nor is it really, nor would it if, you know,

Nijer was left alone result in any fundamental change in the geopolitical situation in Africa.

Well, that's all exaggerated, but the French don't want to let Niger go.

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