In a major geopolitical shift, Niger has officially signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with Russia, solidifying Moscow’s energy partnership with the three military-led members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
The deal focuses on the peaceful development of nuclear energy and will involve Russian state-owned company Rosatom supporting these West African nations in building nuclear infrastructure.
This includes the construction of nuclear power plants and research reactors, as well as the supply of nuclear fuel.
Russia’s Ministry of Energy announced the agreement on July 28 through its press office.
“During today’s meeting, an important memorandum of cooperation in the field of peaceful atom was signed.
Our task is not just to participate in the extraction of uranium, we must create an entire system for the development of a peaceful atom in Niger,” said Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev via the ministry’s official Telegram channel.
He added that the agreement includes work on “the construction of nuclear power plants (NPP), nuclear medicine, and joint training of specialists in this field.”
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The deal signals Russia’s continued push to establish a nuclear development framework across Africa’s military-led states and marks a new phase of engagement in the Sahel.
Last month, Moscow signed similar agreements with Mali and Burkina Faso.
The deal with Burkina Faso was signed during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), with Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev representing Russia and Minister of Energy, Mines and Quarries Yacouba Zabré Gouba signing for Burkina Faso.
Mali’s agreement was formalized in Moscow, where Likhachev signed alongside Boubacar Diane, Malian Minister of Energy and Water Resources.
For the AES governments, the partnership with Russia represents a strategic step toward gaining energy independence and building economic resilience in the face of ongoing electricity shortages, rapid population growth, and significant infrastructure challenges.
These deals also reflect a broader global realignment as the Sahel states increasingly seek alternatives to Western support, especially in the wake of the Ukraine conflict.
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Image Credit: The Moscow Times
