Overview

• The Nigerien national broadcaster RTN reported that the junta accused Orano of irresponsible, illegal and disloyal conduct by the French state, citing this as justification for nationalizing Somaïr.
• A government decree transferred all of Somaïr’s shares and assets to state ownership and promised indemnities for affected shareholders.
• Orano lost operational control of its Nigerien mining subsidiaries, including Somaïr, in December 2024 and saw its permit for the Imouraren uranium deposit—home to an estimated 200,000 tonnes of reserves—revoked in June 2024.
• Orano, majority-owned by the French state, has launched multiple international arbitration proceedings against Niger, most recently filing a claim in January 2025.
• Niamey accuses Paris of backing terrorist groups to destabilize its government and has forged closer mining partnerships with Russia and Iran to reduce French influence.