Conversation so far:
what is the importance of the niger river to africa
The northern part of the river is a focal point of trade across the western Sahara, and the centre of the Sahelian kingdoms of Mali and Gao.
what does the name niger river mean
The name Niger derives in turn from the phrase gher n-gheren, meaning “river among rivers,” in the Tamashek language.

Question: which countries does the river run through
Self-contained rewrite: which countries does the niger river run through