French state-owned nuclear fuel company Orano is considering selling its uranium assets in Niger following a sharp deterioration in relations with the country’s military government.

Since the 2023 coup that brought the junta to power, Orano has faced escalating challenges, including blocked uranium exports and halted financial commitments from Niger as a joint venture partner.

Orano, which operates three uranium mines in Niger through a partnership with the government, revealed it has filed a legal complaint over the “arbitrary arrest, illegal detention, and unjust confiscation of property” impacting its staff and operations.

A central issue is the detention of Orano’s mining director in Niger, Ibrahim Courmo, reportedly held by the country’s intelligence agency, the General Directorate of External Documentation and Surveillance. The company has not been able to establish contact with him since his arrest.

The situation worsened in December 2023 when Niger’s military authorities took control of the Somair uranium mine, where Orano holds a 63% stake, with the government owning the remainder.

Further pressure came in June 2024 when the junta revoked a mining permit held by Orano’s subsidiary, Imouraren. Despite these setbacks, Orano remains committed to resolving the dispute through international arbitration.

In a statement to Reuters, Orano acknowledged that “several parties have expressed their interest in the group’s mining assets in Niger and are free to submit offers if they wish to.”

This move comes amid Niger’s broader shift in mining policies since leaving ECOWAS, adopting new codes that increase state shares in mining revenues and ownership.

Alongside Burkina Faso and Mali, Niger has distanced itself from traditional Western partners, particularly France, and strengthened ties with Russia.

Reports in June indicated that Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear company, has been in talks with Niger’s military government about acquiring Orano’s assets.

Orano’s potential exit from Niger signals a significant shift in the geopolitics of uranium mining in West Africa, as longstanding Western influence faces growing challenges from local nationalist policies and Russian engagement.