Key Points
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Niger will expand its uranium supply internationally.
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Uranium exports could significantly boost government revenue.
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Global demand for uranium supports Niger’s export strategy.
General Abdourahamane Tchiani, who is in charge of Niger’s military government, has said that he wants to sell uranium from the SOMAÏR mine on the world market. Tchiani said on state TV Tele Sahel that Niger has the “legitimate right to dispose of its natural riches” on its own. This was a sign that he wanted full control over the country’s uranium resources.
The announcement comes after a long-standing disagreement with Orano, a French government-backed nuclear company that has run Niger’s uranium mines for decades. Orano holds a 90 percent stake in SOMAÏR and retains a 60 percent interest in other subsidiaries, including the Imouraren mine, which contains one of the world’s largest uranium deposits at an estimated 200,000 tonnes.
France is losing power as Russia gains it
Since taking over in a coup in 2023, Niger’s junta has turned to Russia for military and industrial help, leaving France out in the cold. The change is part of a larger shift away from France, which the government has accused of supporting separatist groups in the Sahel. Orano admitted in December 2024 that it had lost operational control of its three main Nigerien mines: SOMAÏR, Cominak (which has been closed since 2021), and Imouraren.
Orano said that the transfer of uranium was illegal because it went against a September 2025 decision by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The tribunal told Niger not to sell or move uranium made at SOMAÏR. The French company said it only found out about the shipment through news reports and warned that it might take more legal action, including criminal charges.
Niger is still in the spotlight because of global market demand
Niger is still a major player in the uranium market, even though there are legal problems. The country provided about a quarter of Europe’s natural uranium for nuclear power in 2022. Analysts say that selling goods to other countries could bring in more money for the government and change the way goods are distributed around the world.
Experts also warn that managing regulatory compliance, market volatility, and international scrutiny will be critical for Niger’s uranium export strategy. The country’s decision to work with Russia on production could change the way countries influence the sector, and European buyers and France will be watching closely.
As Niger pushes forward with uranium sales, the standoff with Orano underscores the high stakes in one of Africa’s most strategically important mineral sectors.
