Situation in Niger After Military Coup
On July 26, Niger's presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum. The guard's commander, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, proclaimed himself the country's new leader.

Unit of France's Orano Reportedly Stops Uranium Production in Niger Over Lack of Reagents

© Sputnik . Евгений Епанчинцев / Go to the mediabankMining of natural uranium at the Khiagda ore field, Republic of Buryatia, Russia.
Mining of natural uranium at the Khiagda ore field, Republic of Buryatia, Russia. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 08.09.2023
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Earlier, the military that came to power in Niger in a July coup broke all military agreements with France and ordered the French troops and ambassador to leave the West African country.
Niger's mining company Somair, which is a subsidiary of the French nuclear fuel cycle company Orano, has stopped production of uranium concentrate in Niger due to lack of necessary reagents amid sanctions against Niamey, French media reported on Friday.
Somair used to receive its reagents, such as sulfur, carbonates and sodium hydroxide, via Benin, but the chemicals are currently blocked at the border between Benin and Niger due to sanctions, and the reagents the company had in store have run out, the French radio station reported.
In this handout photo released by the Russian Foreign Ministry, President of the Republic of Uganda Yoweri Museveni talks to the media at a joint news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov following their meeting in Kampala, Uganda, on July 26, 2022. Editorial use only, no archive, no commercial use. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 07.09.2023
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On July 26, a coup d'etat took place in Niger. President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted and detained by his own guard, led by Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani. Following the coup, the Economic Community of West African States suspended all cooperation with Niger and threatened invasion if the mutineers do not reinstate Bazoum.
Niger, which is a former French colony, has rich reserves of uranium, on which France depends. Niger reportedly accounts to 15%-17% of the uranium used to produce electricity in France. After the coup, the rebels halted gold and uranium exports to France, blocked French media and denounced several military pacts with Paris.
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