 The country had a relatively high standard of living and was considered one of the more stable countries in West Africa, both politically and economically.At the time of the coup, the country had an estimated US$200 average annual income and was one of the few countries in Africa with a positive trade balance, with exports exceeding imports by 30 percent.As of 1964, the country was among the largest producers of uranium and manganese in French Africa, which "Time" suggested was one of the reasons for France's response to the coup.