Niger: A State Rich in Uranium

The kidnapping on 16 September 2010 of seven Areva and Satom (a subsidiary of the Vinci Group) employees, which was claimed by the Salafist brigade of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), thrust the Republic of Niger into the political and media spotlight. This commando-type operation at the Arlit mining site was followed four months later by a similar operation, this time in the heart of Niger's capital, Niamey. While four of the seven hostages are still being held in northern Mali (three were released in February 2011), the two young people abducted from a restaurant in Niamey were probably executed by their captors as they were pursued at the Malian border by the Niger army supported by French troops. [2] According to another version, one of the young people...[2] Among the poorest countries in the world, Niger rarely features in the headlines, except for the dramatic periods of drought which regularly affect the population, leading to solidarity campaigns, and for coups d'etat impacting the country's political life. The most recent of these coups d'etat (February 18, 2010) deposed President Mamadou Tandja who had modified the Constitution in order to remain in power (Gregoire 2010). Since then, the chain of historical events has accelerated at a rapid pace. The latest event was the election of Mahamadou Issoufou as president of the republic, after an election that took place under conditions of transparency and respect for democracy (March 12, 2011). The task facing the ninth Niger president will not be easy. Among other things, he will have to address the insecurity resulting from the presence of AQIM in Mali's territory, which was 'refueled' by western hostages in Niger. He will also need to eradicate the criminal economy (trafficking of all kinds, starting with drugs) now widespread in the Sahara region, and attempt to lift the country out of underdevelopment. The renewed interest shown by the international community in Niger's uranium deposits, and the revenues the country hopes to realize helps facilitate the task. However, the economic situation is equally murky. Due to the recent emergence of China, now Niger's second largest trading partner behind the former colonial power, a repositioning of geopolitics is underway as French hegemony is challenged. The Areva group has for over forty years imported more than 120,000 metric tons of Nigerian uranate to supply French nuclear power plants. However, the monopoly is now disputed by China, which, like other emerging countries, covets Africa's oil and mineral resources. The accident at the Japanese Fukushima power plant, following the March 11, 2011 earthquake, was factored into this new geopolitical and economic rivalry. This event caused a sudden fall in the price of uranium on the spot market and led several countries, particularly in the northern hemisphere, to come under public opinion pressure and question the relevance of their nuclear programs. The uranium sector is, therefore, going through a turbulent period. To understand the issues relating to the exploitation of Nigerian uranium and the new balance of power, it is appropriate to look back in time and to analyze the impact of uranium on the country's economic and political life, at home and abroad. Since 1968 uranium has played a major role in these areas