French company loses control of major uranium mine in Niger

French nuclear fuel company Orano has said that the Niger government has taken control of the Somair uranium mine that was monopolized by the colonial agency in the West African country.

The colonial company Orano, which owned about 63 percent of the mine, said in a statement that decisions taken at Somair's board meetings are no longer valid.

The Nigerien government says its citizens have the right to benefit from the country's natural resources, including the vital Sonar uranium mine. Former French colonial power Orano was stripped of its key mining license in June 2024. It was then banned from exporting the mineral outside Niger. 

But the colonial company continued to struggle to remain in Niger despite experiencing financial difficulties from that time until now, when it has proven that it has completely lost control of the mine.

For a long time, France has been exploiting the natural resources of African countries, including Niger, while the people of those countries continue to suffer from countless disasters and problems. The new administration that came to power in Niger has decided to end the oppression and exploitation of the European colonial power. 

Uranium is widely used in nuclear energy. The French colonial company Orano has been exploiting Niger's mineral wealth for many years.

The Niger government has said it plans to amend laws to protect the country's resources.