Niger: Mining sovereignty, the State regains control of uranium from Orano
Since the regime change in July 2023, the new authorities of Niger have multiplied efforts to restore the country’s economic sovereignty. A decisive step was taken on Thursday, June 19, 2025, with the decision to nationalize the Société des Mines de l’Aïr (SOMAÏR), the only uranium mine still operating on national territory. Until now, this company was majority-owned (63.40%) by the French group Orano, formerly Areva, with the remaining 36.60% held by Niger’s state-owned company SOPAMIN.
Through this decision, the government led by General Abdourahamane Tiani intends to put an end to decades of imbalances in the distribution of strategic mining resources. According to the official report from the Council of Ministers, numerous irregularities have been identified in SOMAÏR’s management. The authorities accuse Orano of having extracted and sold 86.3% of the uranium produced since 1971, a figure far exceeding the share corresponding to its stake in the company. In comparison, SOPAMIN reportedly received only 9.2% of production—completely contradicting the principle of proportional sharing.
Additionally, Niamey accuses Orano of destabilizing tactics, including withdrawing its expatriate personnel, attempting to disrupt mining operations, and launching smear campaigns against the company with its partners. The government also notes that the last mining convention governing operations expired on December 31, 2023, without renewal or renegotiation. In response, Orano has taken the case to international bodies and denounced the arrest of its local director, describing it as “arbitrary detention”. However, for Niger’s authorities, this is above all a matter of economic justice.
This move reflects a clear determination to reclaim control over the country’s strategic resources, guided by sovereignty and transparency. As early as June 2024, Niamey had already withdrawn Orano’s exploitation permit for the Imouraren project, another major uranium deposit, and blocked its exports. This new policy represents a historic break from past extractive practices that long favored foreign interests. Niger is now sending a strong signal: its natural resources must first and foremost serve the country’s development and the well-being of its people.
