An international arbitration tribunal in Washington, DC, has ordered Niger’s military rulers to stop selling disputed uranium stockpiles, deepening a high-stakes battle with French mining giant Orano. The ruling, delivered on Friday, also instructed Niamey to release an Orano staff member who has been in detention since May.
The row dates back to December 2024 when Niger’s junta revoked Orano’s mining licence and seized control of its uranium operations. The move was part of a wider push by the military to tighten grip on the country’s natural resources after seizing power in 2023. Since then, French troops have been expelled while Niamey has drawn closer to Russia and Turkey.
At the centre of the dispute is more than 1,000 tonnes of uranium concentrate—worth over $200 million—that Orano says was unlawfully withheld from export. If Niger ignores the interim ruling, the company could push to seize Niger’s assets or royalties abroad, setting the stage for a bruising financial showdown.
Analysts warn the legal fight could drag on for years, leaving a key source of the world’s uranium supply stuck in limbo. With global demand for nuclear fuel rising, the case not only threatens Niger’s economy but also stirs fresh concerns about energy security far beyond Africa.
