malian fighters launched insurrection in the sahara in the 1960s and 1990s , and renewed rebellions since early 2007 against the local banks of niger and gambia have increased tension in a region where the qaeda units also operate . fighting in niger ' s rebellion , instigated by the niger justice movement ( mnj ) , has kill more than 300 revolutionaries and around 80 government soldiers . the mnj says it is fighting for equality with black africans in the south of the country , more administrative autonomy and a higher say in the use of mineral services from the north , which has a booming uranium mining operation .
MNJ is an organization of Tuareg rebels.