The Niger River Basin: Supporting West Africa's Empires

West Africa has been home to many empires throughout history. The Mali Empire established itself as a regional powerhouse in medieval times through of its exports of gold, as well as salt, and its control over the Sahara trade routes from West Africa. The region later became a prized possession in France's colonial holdings and served as a haven for the country's troops to recover from their initial losses in World War II. Today, Nigeria has assumed an increasingly influential role in West Africa thanks to its oil wealth and vast population. The Niger River basin nourished these powers, providing the resources necessary to build and sustain empires. And its natural advantages will continue to make West Africa a seat of power, if the region's longstanding problems don't get in the way....