Niamey, Niger – December 1, 2025 – In a bold assertion of economic sovereignty, Niger's military regime announced today that it is placing stockpiled uranium from the nationalized Somair mine onto the international market, directly challenging a recent international arbitration ruling favoring French nuclear giant Orano. The declaration, broadcast on state television Télé Sahel, marks the latest escalation in a protracted dispute that has reshaped geopolitical alliances in West Africa and injected significant volatility into the global uranium supply chain.
The announcement was made during an evening broadcast featuring remarks from General Abdourahamane Tiani, head of the junta that seized power in the July 2023 coup. Tiani framed the decision as a fundamental exercise of national autonomy, declaring that it is “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.” The statement reflects the regime’s broader narrative of breaking free from decades of perceived colonial-era exploitation, particularly by France.
The Somair mine, located near the northern town of Arlit, has long been a pillar of Niger’s economy. Since operations began in 1971, it has produced thousands of tonnes of uranium annually, accounting for over 40% of the country’s export revenue in recent years. Historically operated as a joint venture between Orano (formerly Areva) and Niger’s state-owned Sopamin, the mine saw Orano hold a 63.4% stake while providing technical expertise and securing most of the output under long-term contracts.
Tensions exploded after the 2023 coup. The new military government accused France of interfering in Niger’s internal affairs and supporting Tuareg separatist movements in the uranium-rich north. In response, Niamey progressively severed security and economic ties with Paris. French troops were expelled, military bases closed, and diplomatic relations downgraded.
The breaking point came in December 2024 when Niger revoked Orano’s operating licenses for its three flagship assets: the active Somair mine, the closed Cominak mine, and the massive undeveloped Imouraren deposit — one of the world’s largest known uranium reserves. In June 2025, the government formally nationalized Somair, accusing Orano of deliberately paralyzing production by withdrawing expatriate staff, disconnecting critical IT systems, and halting maintenance — actions Niamey described as sabotage intended to pressure the junta.
Orano, which is 90% owned by the French state, has consistently rejected these allegations, calling the nationalization an illegal expropriation in breach of bilateral investment treaties and joint-venture agreements. Although the company technically retains majority shareholding in the operating subsidiaries, it has had no operational control since late 2024. The French group immediately launched multiple arbitration cases, most notably before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in Washington.
On September 23, 2025, an ICSID tribunal issued provisional measures strongly in Orano’s favor, explicitly ordering Niger “not to sell, transfer, or even facilitate the transfer to third parties of uranium produced by SOMAÏR” until the merits of the case are decided. The same ruling called for the release of an Orano representative detained in Niamey since May. Orano welcomed the decision as clear recognition of its contractual rights and warned that any sale of the disputed stockpiles would be considered unlawful.
Today’s announcement constitutes a direct defiance of that binding order. While exact volumes have not been disclosed, industry sources estimate that several hundred to over a thousand tonnes of yellowcake may be stockpiled at Arlit, partly due to export restrictions imposed by ECOWAS sanctions following the coup.
The decision unfolds against a dramatic realignment of Niger’s international partnerships. Having withdrawn from the French sphere of influence, the junta has moved decisively toward Russia. Moscow has supplied military equipment and instructors — including personnel from the rebranded Africa Corps — to help combat jihadist insurgencies in the north and southwest. On the economic front, Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom has openly expressed interest in taking over Orano’s former assets. High-level visits and memoranda of understanding signed in 2025 have paved the way for potential Russian investment across Niger’s mining sector, with uranium at the top of the list.
For Europe, the implications are severe. In 2022, Niger provided roughly 25% of the natural uranium imported by EU countries, making it the bloc’s second-largest supplier after Kazakhstan. France alone sourced a substantial portion of the fuel needed to power its nuclear reactors, which generate about 70% of the country’s electricity. While European utilities maintain strategic inventories sufficient for two to three years of operation, any prolonged redirection of Nigerien supplies — especially toward Russia or Asian buyers — risks upward pressure on global uranium prices and complicates long-term supply security at a time when many countries are planning nuclear expansion to meet climate goals.
Inside Niger, opinions are divided. Supporters of the junta celebrate the move as a historic reclaiming of national wealth too long siphoned off by foreign corporations. Critics, including civil-society groups and exiled political opponents, warn that revenues may primarily benefit the military elite rather than ordinary citizens, while technical challenges have already caused production to plummet by around 50% compared to pre-nationalization levels.
As potential buyers from Russia, China, India, and elsewhere begin inquiries, the standoff shows no sign of abating. Orano continues to pursue legal remedies and has indicated it will seek enforcement measures against any entity purchasing the disputed material. Meanwhile, General Tiani’s government appears determined to press ahead, betting that resource nationalism will strengthen both its domestic legitimacy and its bargaining power on the world stage.
The uranium fields of Arlit, once a symbol of Franco–African cooperation, have become the epicenter of a new great-power rivalry — with the future of global nuclear fuel hanging in the balance.
