Latest news with #Niamey
Bloomberg
an hour ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Niger Junta Seizes French Nuclear Giant Orano's Uranium Mine
Niger's military government took control of Orano SA 's uranium mine, escalating a standoff with the French nuclear-power company. The junta took action after accusing Orano of violating its shareholder agreement by extracting more uranium than its 63.4% stake in a local affiliate allows, according to cabinet meeting minutes published in the capital, Niamey, on Thursday. It also criticized the company for halting operations, repatriating French staff and signaling that it may sell off its assets.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Niger to nationalise Somair uranium venture operated by France's Orano
NIAMEY (Reuters) -Niger's government announced plans to nationalise the Somair uranium joint venture operated by French nuclear fuels company Orano, according to a statement read out on national television in the West African nation on Thursday. The decision is an escalation of a dispute between the Niger government and the French company, following a deterioration of relations between France and Niger after a military coup in July 2023. The statement cited a series of grievances including the expiration of the latest mining agreement in December 2023. "Faced with this irresponsible, illegal, and unfair behaviour by Orano, a company owned by the French state — a state openly hostile toward Niger since July 26, 2023 ... the government of Niger has decided, in full sovereignty, to nationalise Somair," the statement said. A spokesperson for Orano declined to comment. Orano holds a 63% stake in Somair, while Niger's state-owned Sopamin owns the remainder, but the French operator has been shut out since the military-led government seized control of the uranium mine. Orano, which has been pursuing arbitration against Niger and has filed lawsuits in the country against the state's actions, has been warning of government interference at Somair, which it said was damaging the mine's financial situation. According to a Financial Times report in May, the company was also exploring the potential sale of its stake in the uranium venture.
Reuters
14 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Niger to nationalize Somair uranium venture operated by France's Orano
NIAMEY, June 19 (Reuters) - Niger's government on Thursday announced plans to nationalize the Somair uranium joint venture operated by French nuclear fuels company Orano, according to a statement read on national television in the West African nation. The statement cited a series of grievances including the expiration of the latest mining agreement in December 2023. "Faced with this irresponsible, illegal, and unfair behaviour by Orano, a company owned by the French state — a state openly hostile toward Niger since July 26, 2023 ... the government of Niger has decided, in full sovereignty, to nationalize Somair," the statement said. The decision is an escalation of a dispute between the government and the French company, following a deterioration of relations between France and Niger after a military coup in July 2023. Orano holds a 63% stake in Somair, while Niger's state-owned Sopamin owns the remainder, but the French operator has been shut out since the military-led government seized control of the uranium mine. Orano, which has been pursuing arbitration against Niger and has filed lawsuits in the country against the state's actions, has been warning of government interference at Somair, which it said was damaging the mine's financial situation. According to a Financial Times report in May, the company was also exploring the potential sale of its stake in the uranium venture.
South China Morning Post
10-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China-Niger ties challenge Beijing's cornerstone non-interference policy
Since the 2023 coup that ousted the president of Niger , Mohamed Bazoum, Beijing has consistently sought to strengthen relations with the country's military government. In line with its non-interference policy , one of the cornerstones of China's foreign policy that states that countries should not meddle in the domestic political, economic or social systems of other countries, China swiftly embraced the military junta in Niger. Notably, China provided the new military government with a substantial financial lifeline of about US$400 million in the form of an oil-backed loan to be repaid via crude oil shipments over 12 months, which helped address an immediate cash shortage. 16:09 How China is reshaping its economic ties with Africa How China is reshaping its economic ties with Africa Yet relations with China have been strained since March when the junta expelled three Chinese oil executives over disparities between the salaries of expatriate staff and lower-paid local workers and revoked the licence of a Chinese-owned hotel in Niamey, citing 'discriminatory practices and administrative violations'. The dispute escalated last month when Niger ordered China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and its Soraz oil refinery to terminate the contracts of expatriate employees with more than four years' service. Observers said Niger's dispute with Chinese oil companies underscored the limits of Beijing's non-interference policy – a long-standing Chinese policy which, in practice, meant China remained essentially regime-agnostic. This approach, while intended to avoid entanglement in domestic affairs, incurred significant economic costs for Beijing, especially as some nations were experiencing a rise in nationalism, they added. According to Paul Nantulya, a China-Africa specialist from the National Defence University's Africa Centre for Strategic Studies in Washington, China's policy entails regime strengthening since Beijing tends to invest heavily in the economic priorities of the regimes or ruling parties in question.
Reuters
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Red Cross halts operations in Niger after government directive
NIAMEY, June 6 (Reuters) - The International Committee of the Red Cross says it has suspended its operations in Niger after the West African nation's government ordered the closure of its offices, citing alleged collusion with armed groups. Niger junta leader Abdourahamane Tchiani said in an interview with state television in late May that the organisation had been expelled in February, accusing it of meeting and collaborating with Islamist insurgent leaders. The ICRC denied the allegations. "To fulfil its humanitarian mandate to protect and assist victims of armed conflict, the ICRC engages in a spoken or written dialogue with all parties to a conflict," it said in a statement on Thursday. The organisation said it "never provides those parties with financial, logistical or other support." The ICRC, which has worked in Niger for 35 years, said it regretted the government's decision. It said it had immediately removed all foreign personnel from Niger earlier this year after authorities ordered it to do so, while remaining available for dialogue to understand what drove the decision and provide clarification. It added that attempts to discuss the situation were unsuccessful. "Our priority in Niger has been to help the most vulnerable people affected by ongoing armed conflicts and to do so with transparency, independence, neutrality and impartiality," ICRC Regional Director Patrick Youssef said in the statement. Around 4.5 million people, or 17% of Niger's population, required aid in 2024 due to a humanitarian crisis driven by insecurity, epidemics, and natural disasters, according to the United Nations. Niger's junta staged a coup in 2023 that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. Following the coup, Niger's authorities, like military rulers in Mali and Burkina Faso, expelled French and other Western forces and sought support from Russia as they battle militant groups.
