Niger to Nationalise French-Operated Uranium Mine

Niger is set to nationalise the Somair uranium mine, a key site operated by French nuclear energy firm Orano, as part of a broader strategic shift away from its former colonial power, France. The move marks a significant moment in the country’s post-coup reorientation under military leadership and follows escalating tensions between Niger and the French government.

Orano, which is 90% owned by the French state, has been a major player in Niger’s uranium industry for decades. However, Niger’s military government, which came to power in a July 2023 coup, accuses Orano of exploiting the country’s resources unfairly. In a recent statement, Niger's authorities accused the company of taking 86.3% of uranium production from the Somair mine since its operations began in 1971, despite holding only a 63% ownership stake. The remaining 37% is owned by Niger’s state-run mining firm Sopamin.

The military regime framed the nationalisation as a matter of sovereignty and justice. They claim that since France’s open hostility toward Niger following the coup, it is no longer acceptable for a French-owned firm to maintain control over such a vital national resource. Citing Orano’s “irresponsible, illegal, and unfair behaviour,” the government announced it would fully nationalise the Somair mine.

Orano has pushed back against these claims. In a statement released Friday, the company described the move as part of a “systematic policy of stripping mining assets” and warned of legal retaliation. It also said it plans to seek compensation for damages and to assert its rights over existing uranium stock corresponding to Somair’s production. Orano, which has operated in Niger for over 50 years, is already entangled in multiple arbitration disputes with the country. In a sign of deteriorating relations, the company recently filed a legal complaint after its local offices were raided and its director went missing.

The nationalisation of Somair follows Niger’s broader shift in foreign policy since the 2023 coup. The military leadership has severed security and diplomatic ties with France, opting instead to strengthen its alliance with Russia. In 2024, the regime further escalated the split by removing Orano’s operational control over all three of its key uranium mines: Somair, Cominak, and Imouraren — the latter being one of the world’s largest uranium deposits.

This move is not isolated to Niger alone. It reflects a growing regional trend across West Africa, where countries ruled by military governments are asserting greater control over their natural resources. Both Mali and Burkina Faso — similarly under military rule — have also initiated the nationalisation of foreign-operated mines. These actions reflect a broader anti-colonial sentiment and a push to reclaim sovereignty over strategic assets long dominated by foreign corporations, especially those tied to former colonial powers.

In essence, Niger’s decision to nationalise Somair is emblematic of the country’s post-coup transformation. It not only highlights the geopolitical rift with France but also underlines a wider movement across the Sahel region, where resource nationalism is becoming central to new governance models driven by military regimes seeking to redefine their national priorities.