Keypoints:
- Niger’s main mine union supports state move
- Orano accused of decades of resource pillaging
- Legal showdown looms as tensions escalate
NIGER’S main mine workers’ union has thrown its weight behind the government’s move to nationalise the Somair uranium mine, intensifying an ongoing dispute with French nuclear giant Orano.
In a strongly worded statement on Saturday, the National Union of Niger Mine Workers (SYNTRAMIN) called the nationalisation a ‘sovereign decision’ and promised that mining operations would continue without interruption, Reuters reported.
The government formally announced plans to nationalise the mine last week, after taking control in December. Orano, which owns a 63 percent stake in Somair, has opposed the move and is weighing legal action.
Union accuses Orano of exploitation
SYNTRAMIN echoed long-standing grievances over foreign exploitation of Niger’s mineral wealth. It condemned what it described as ‘decades of pillaging organised for the benefit of foreign interests,’ and praised the military-led government’s stance.
Niger’s authorities allege that Orano has extracted 86.3 percent of the mine’s output since it began operations in 1971—a figure central to the nationalisation argument.
The Somair uranium mine is crucial to Niger’s economy and global energy supply chains. The country is the seventh-largest uranium producer in the world, and the mineral plays a pivotal role in nuclear energy production globally.
Legal battle brewing over resource control
In response to rising tensions, Orano is pursuing legal proceedings against the Nigerien state. In May 2025, the French firm filed a formal complaint after its local executive was detained and its assets seized during a security raid.
That May 5 operation by Nigerien forces targeted Orano’s offices in Niamey, including Somair, Cominak, Imouraren, and Orano Mining. Security agents confiscated electronics and mobile phones, while executives were questioned by authorities.
Orano has yet to issue a direct public response to the government’s claims or the union’s endorsement of nationalisation.
A regional trend toward resource sovereignty
Niger’s actions reflect a wider movement across West Africa to take greater control of extractive industries and renegotiate legacy contracts with multinational firms.
By reclaiming Somair, the military government says it aims to increase national revenues, reinvest in public infrastructure, and assert sovereignty over strategic minerals.
Support from SYNTRAMIN provides the government with crucial labour backing, reinforcing its stance amid international scrutiny and legal pushback.
As disputes mount between African states and foreign extractive firms, Niger’s uranium standoff could become a defining moment in the region’s push for resource justice and equitable development.
