In a predictable diplomatic move, Uranium assets in Niger held by France’s state-controlled Orano SA may be taken over by Russia, Bloomberg reported, citing people informed about the matter.
Russia’s state nuclear company, Rosatom, has contacted Niger’s military-led authorities about acquiring the assets in an effort to challenge the West, as per an anonymous source in Moscow familiar with the matter.
A Western diplomat in the region claimed that discussions were likely aimed at mining permits, as the World Nuclear Association states that Niger accounts for almost 4% of global uranium mine production as of 2022.
Mark Hibbs, a Berlin-based nuclear analyst with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, stated that “Russia has been stepping up its economic, diplomatic, and military links in Africa, including after the Niger coup, and they see this part of the world as a strategic investment opportunity.”
“Hand in hand, Rosatom has been diversifying its uranium investments in Africa,” Hibbs added.
It remains unclear how much of the assets Rosatom is seeking, and the source in Moscow characterized the discussions as being at an early stage having not reached negotiations yet and with the terms of transfer not yet set out.
It is also worth noting that Niger, according to the World Nuclear Association (WNA), is the world’s seventh-biggest producer of uranium. Orano owns 63.4% of Société des Mines de l’Aïr (SOMAÏR). The remaining 36.66% is owned by Niger’s Société du Patrimoine des Mines du Niger, known as Sopamin.
Relations between Paris and Niamey have gone from bad to worse since a military coup last July 26 ousted Niger’s elected President Mohamed Bazoum. France shut its embassy in Niamey in December after ambassador Sylvain Itte was ordered to leave. The last French soldier of 1,500 once deployed in Niger withdrew on December 22.
In early October 2023, Paris-based magazine Jeune Afrique reported that French President Emmanuel Macron has offered to provide logistical and intelligence support to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) if the bloc decides to intervene militarily in Niger.
It is noteworthy that following the coup in July, ECOWAS suspended Niger and imposed sanctions on it. It also left open a possible military invasion to “re-establish constitutional order” as a final option if needed.
Niamey is battling now two insurgencies – a spillover in its southeast from a long-running conflict in neighboring Nigeria, and an offensive in the west by militants crossing from Mali and Burkina Faso.