Nairobi/Niamey - French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in Niger Friday to back a deal by French firm Areva to exploit uranium deposits in the north of the West African country.

Anne Lauvergeon, chief executive officer of Areva, is travelling with Sarkozy on the whistle-stop tour that saw him also visit the Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo.

Lauvergeon on Thursday signed an agreement with the Congolese Minister of Mines, Martin Kabwelulu, on the prospecting and mining of DR Congo's sizeable uranium reserves.

Niger, however, is Africa's biggest uranium producer and a vital source for Areva.

Areva in January signed a deal with the Niger government to operate the Imouraren mine, which the company expects to become the second-biggest in the world.

Mining is expected to begin in 2012, producing around 5,000 tonnes per year.

However, mining has caused problems in the north, where nomadic Tuareg are fighting the government, saying they have remained poverty-stricken despite the mineral uranium riches. (dpa)