A huge shipment of uranium, estimated to be over 1,000 tonnes, has been stranded at Niamey airport in Niger for weeks. The cargo, which is at the center of a diplomatic dispute, is a key part of the country’s push to assert sovereignty over its resources. Niger, one of the world’s leading producers of uranium, wants to sell the shipment on the international market.
The uranium, which was previously mined by French firm Orano, was nationalized by the military leadership in June. The move was seen as a bid to assert control over the country’s resources and reduce its dependence on foreign companies. The shipment, which left the northern town of Arlit in late November, was expected to be transported to a neighboring country’s port for export. However, the junta’s relations with neighboring countries, including Nigeria and Benin, are tense, making it difficult to find a safe route.
The most direct route, via Benin’s port of Seme-Kpodji, is not an option due to the closed border between the two countries. The alternative route, through Togo, poses significant security risks due to jihadist violence in the region. The Tillaberi region, which borders Burkina Faso, has been described as the “deadliest region” in the central Sahel.
The shipment could also be transported by air, and satellite images show two Russian-made cargo planes at Niamey airport earlier this month. However, the buyer of the uranium remains unknown, and Moscow has not officially expressed interest in the shipment. Russia’s energy minister has stated that the country’s “main goal is to mine uranium” in Niger, and Russian atomic agency Rosatom has signed a memorandum on civilian nuclear cooperation with Niger.
The shipment has also sparked a legal challenge, with France launching a probe into the suspected theft of the uranium. Orano claims that the cargo still belongs to it, while Niger rejects this claim and accuses the company of owing debts and unpaid bills. The legal case could complicate matters for any country through which the shipment might transit, and Togo is reportedly hesitant to allow the shipment to pass through its territory due to international commitments. The French company has vowed to pursue legal action against Niger and anyone who tries to acquire the stock stranded in Niamey. The situation remains unresolved, with the shipment’s fate hanging in the balance.
