France has expressed deep concern over reports that Niger’s military junta is negotiating the sale of 1,000 metric tons of yellowcake uranium to Russia, a deal estimated to be worth approximately $170 million. The uranium, currently stockpiled at the Arlit mine in northern Niger, has become a flashpoint in the growing geopolitical confrontation between the former colonial power and the junta state, which has been pivoting towards Moscow since the 2023 military coup.

Paris’s deep concern stems from the security and conflict implications of the reported sale. French officials fear that the proceeds or the material itself could indirectly bolster Russia’s war effort in Ukraine. Furthermore, given the security volatility in the Sahel region, there are significant fears that uranium shipments could be intercepted or diverted by insurgency groups rooted throughout the region, posing catastrophic risks if the nuclear material falls into the wrong hands.

The proposed deal follows a series of escalating tensions that have severely strained Franco-Nigerien relations. In June, the junta nationalized Somair, a subsidiary of the French nuclear company Orano, just two years after the military takeover. Orano, which had a 63% interest in the mine, had previously warned that the joint venture was on the verge of bankruptcy. The junta defended its action by accusing Orano of disproportionately extracting 86.3% of the uranium output since 1971, despite its minority ownership stake.

SOURCE : BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA