Niger's military government has taken a decisive step in its ongoing confrontation with France by announcing it will sell uranium from the Somair mine on the international market. This action directly challenges the French nuclear company Orano, which lost control of the mine when it was nationalized by the Niamey regime in June 2025.
A Declaration of Sovereign Control Over Resources
The announcement was broadcast on state television Tele Sahel, featuring comments from the head of the junta, General Abdourahamane Tiani. He framed the decision as a fundamental assertion of Niger's rights. General Tiani stated it was "Niger's legitimate right to dispose of its natural riches to sell them to whoever wants to buy them, under the rules of the market, in complete independence."
This move is the latest in a series of actions distancing Niger from its former colonial power. Since the coup in 2023, the new authorities have accused France of supporting separatist groups within the country.
Shifting Alliances: From Paris to Moscow
As ties with France fray, Niger has been forging closer relations with Russia. The partnership focuses significantly on security cooperation to combat the nation's persistent jihadist insurgency. Furthermore, Russia's Energy Minister has previously expressed Moscow's direct interest in mining uranium in Niger, indicating a potential alignment of economic and strategic interests.
The heart of the dispute with France revolves around control of Niger's uranium mines. The process began in 2024 when Niger revoked Orano's operational control over its three key mines: Somair, Cominak, and the massive Imouraren deposit. The final step was the nationalization of the Somair mine in June 2025, which stripped Orano of its operational rights on the ground.
Legal Battles and Global Supply Chain Implications
Orano, which still officially holds a majority stake in the subsidiary companies, has launched multiple international arbitration procedures. The company aims to regain operational control and assert its legal claims over the existing stockpiles of uranium. Orano has strongly condemned the junta's decision to sell the uranium, calling it a clear violation of a September international arbitration ruling that banned the sale or transfer of the material without the company's consent.
The repercussions of this move extend far beyond a bilateral dispute. Niger's uranium is a critical strategic resource for Europe. Data from the European atomic organization Euratom shows that in 2022, Niger supplied around 25% of the natural uranium used by European nuclear power plants. Redirecting this supply to the open international market, where buyers like Russia could potentially acquire it, introduces significant uncertainty into the global uranium supply chain and Europe's energy security.
