Niger struggles with Security, Economic Crises

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Niger struggles with Security, Economic Crises

Places in news | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Niger, Niger Benin Export Pipeline

Why in the News?

The China-backed Niger-Benin Export Pipeline that would make Niger an oil-exporting country is being threatened by an internal security crisis and a diplomatic dispute with neighboring Benin.
- These issues arose after last year’s coup that toppled Niger’s democratic government.

About Niger

Niger, located in West Africa, is a landlocked country known for its vast desert landscapes and significant cultural heritage.
The northern region of Niger is dominated by the Sahara Desert, comprising more than half of the country.
The central part of Niger is characterized by the Sahel, a semi-arid transition zone between the Sahara
The Aïr Mountains, located in the northern central part are a significant mountain range with the highest peak, Mont Idoukal-n-Taghès (2,022 m).
The Niger River is the country’s primary water source.
Lake Chad is a significant body of water shared with Nigeria, Chad, and Cameroon. Its size keep on fluctuating.

About Niger Benin Export Pipeline

The 1,930-kilometer pipeline runs from Niger’s Chinese-built Agadem oil field to the port of Cotonou in Benin.
It was designed to help Niger achieve an almost 5x increase in oil production through a $400 million deal with China’s state-run national petroleum company.
The pipeline faces significant challenges, including a recent diplomatic disagreement with Benin.
These issues threaten to strain Niger’s economy, heavily reliant on external support now withheld after a coup.

PYQ:

[2018] Which of the following has/have shrunk immensely/dried up in the recent past due to human activities?

Aral Sea
Black Sea
Lake Baikal

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3

(c) 2 only

(d) 1 and 3

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