The relationships between the France and the Niger are going through a particularly tense period since the coup d’état of July 2023. The ruling military junta quickly demanded the departure of the 1,500 French soldiers based in the country, putting an end to years of military cooperation. This diplomatic rupture led to a cascade of challenges to historic agreements between the two nations, particularly affecting the mining sector, a major economic pillar of Niger.
Uranium production at a standstill: an economic standoff
The French uranium giant Oran has just announced the suspension of “expenses linked to extraction activities” of its subsidiary Somaïr in Niger. This decision, voted on during the board of directors meeting on November 12, aims to preserve cash flow to guarantee the payment of employee salaries. The situation has become critical with the blocking of 1,050 tonnes of uranium concentrate, representing a market value of 300 million euros. The closure of the border with Benin, decided by Niamey for security reasons, prevents the export of this crucial production. In June the junta also withdrew the operating permit for Imouraren, one of the world’s major uranium deposits.
Towards a geopolitical and mining reorientation
This new configuration pushes the Niger to diversify its international partnerships. The colonel Ousmane AbarchiNigerien Minister of Mines, confirmed discussions with Russian companies interested in the exploration and exploitation of the country’s natural resources. Iran is also among the potential new partners. There Sopamina Nigerien state company which holds 36.6% of the shares in the Somaïrexpressed his disapproval during the vote on the suspension of activities by leaving the council room. This position reflects the desire of the Nigerien authorities to completely restructure the management of raw materials on their territory, until now dominated by Western companies.
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