Niger’s ruling Junta Milsia on Thursday announced a plan to nationalize Somier, a unit of French uranium company Orano, increased tension between the two countries.
Janta said in a statement read on Niger’s national television, “Niger has openly decided to nationalize Somier,” to nationalize Somier, in all sovereignty, “French state -owned company Orano -owned company, Orano, openly decided to nationalize Somier, in all sovereignty.
The decision falls between a deep crack between Paris and Nymmel after the decline in 2023 when military jute made a coup to handle Niger. As a result, France pulled back its soldiers from the Sahel Nation.
Why is Niger nationalized a French-managed enterprise?
Orano – which is that this alph is 90% of the French state owned – 63% stake in Somier. The rest of the uranium venture are controlled by Niger’s State Run Sopamine.
Orano has operated uranium mines in Niger for decades, but was excluded from its operation in three major mines in 2024, with a coup after a coup that saw a sharp increase in anti-French spirit in the former French colony.
Niger has some of the world’s largest uranium deposits.
The French company is chasing legal means to regain the operational control of Somier, claiming that the state’s work is damaging the finance of the mine.
In May, financial Times Told that the company was searching for options to sell its stake in the enterprise.
Edited by: Alex Berry
