Niger Reclaims Uranium: Ending 50 Years of French Control

Edited By : Widad WAHBI

Two decades after former president Mamadou Tandja first sought to renegotiate Niger’s uranium contracts with France, the country has finally taken a decisive step to reclaim control of its most valuable resource.

In July 2023, General Abdourahmane Tiani seized power in a military coup, pledging sovereignty and economic independence from France, Niger’s former colonial ruler. Two years later, his government delivered on that promise by revoking Orano’s licenses, nationalizing the state-owned SOMAIR company, and effectively ending over half a century of French dominance in Niger’s uranium sector.

Niger holds the world’s sixth-largest uranium reserves and supplies about 5% of global demand, long serving as a key source for France’s nuclear energy sector, which depends on uranium for around 30% of its electricity needs. Yet, despite this wealth, nearly 45% of Nigeriens live in extreme poverty, according to World Bank data.

The fight for economic sovereignty dates back to 2005, when President Tandja challenged France’s nuclear giant Areva (later renamed Orano), demanding better terms under the slogan: “Uranium must benefit the people of Niger.” By 2008, an agreement raised uranium prices by 50% and gave Niger a 33% stake in the Imouraren mega-mine. Still, the project stalled, and French companies retained vast privileges under long-standing contracts.

The 2006 Mining Law marked a turning point, granting Niger up to 30% ownership in mining ventures, imposing higher royalties, and removing automatic tax exemptions. Yet, reforms were slow to translate into genuine independence.

Under Tiani, Niger went further than Tandja ever managed, cancelling the Imouraren concession in 2023, and in June 2025, nationalizing SOMAIR, one of Orano’s main subsidiaries. These moves effectively expelled French companies from Niger’s uranium industry.

The shift reflects a broader Sahel alliance push—with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—towards asserting sovereignty, reducing foreign military and economic influence, and framing France as a destabilizing force in the region.

For the first time in six decades, Niger now controls its uranium on its own terms. But the question remains: will this long-awaited independence translate into prosperity for one of the world’s poorest nations, or will corruption and instability continue to hold back its potential?