Some more info on uranium and Niger from latest "tell-all" book
Apparently, according to Joseph Wilson, the Iraqi attempting to open trade relations with Niger was Saddam's information minister, "Baghdad Bob." Interesting.
I'm still waiting to hear what products Iraq would feel the need to import from Niger, and would need to send the information minister to arrange the imports.
Other than uranium, which accounted for about 30 percent of total exports in 2002 (it was about 70 percent in 1991, but prices were higher), Niger exports livestock, cowpeas, and onions.