World Bank Tribunal Bars Niger from Selling Uranium from Somaïr Mine

By Dr. Michael O. Omoruyi, iNewsAfrica | September 28, 2025

In a dramatic turn that underscores the fierce battle over Africa’s natural resources, an international arbitration tribunal linked to the World Bank has ordered Niger’s military-led government to halt all uranium sales from the Somaïr mine—one of the country’s most strategic assets.

The ruling, handed down on September 23, 2025, by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), prohibits Niger from selling, transferring, or even facilitating the transfer of uranium extracted from the Somaïr site. The tribunal’s directive came after France’s nuclear giant Orano, which held a controlling stake in the mine, challenged Niger’s move to nationalize the venture earlier this year.

A Clash of Sovereignty and Investment

Niger stunned the global energy sector in June when it seized control of Somaïr, ending decades of Franco-Nigerien partnership. The junta government declared uranium a sovereign resource that must serve Nigeriens first. Orano responded with arbitration, invoking protections enshrined in bilateral investment treaties.

The ICSID tribunal’s order—issued as provisional measures—marks a rare and forceful intervention in Africa’s extractive sector disputes. By barring uranium trade, the ruling effectively freezes one of Niger’s main revenue streams, placing the junta in a difficult bind.

Uranium in the Global Spotlight

Niger is the world’s seventh-largest uranium producer, and Somaïr has long been a linchpin of France’s nuclear fuel supply. With Europe seeking stable alternatives in an era of energy insecurity, Niger’s uranium is more geopolitically valuable than ever.

But the ruling is more than a corporate dispute; it is symbolic of a larger question: who controls Africa’s critical minerals—the continent itself or international investors backed by global institutions?

Enforcement and Fallout

While ICSID rulings carry legal weight under international law, enforcement often relies on diplomatic and economic pressure. Niger’s junta has so far shown little appetite for compromise, branding Orano’s claims as neo-colonial interference. Yet ignoring the tribunal could further isolate the country financially, deter future investment, and entrench its standoff with Western powers.

For Orano, the ruling is a reprieve in its bid to salvage billions invested. For Niger, it raises the stakes in its gamble for resource sovereignty. For Africa, it sends a chilling reminder of the fragile balance between asserting control over natural wealth and navigating global legal frameworks that often tilt in favor of multinational giants.

Beyond Niger: A Continental Lesson

This dispute resonates across the continent, from cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo to lithium reserves in Zimbabwe. Africa’s critical minerals are in the global spotlight, and arbitration tribunals like ICSID are increasingly shaping their destiny.

As Africa pushes for economic independence, this case may set a precedent—either empowering governments to renegotiate exploitative contracts or warning them of the legal and financial minefields ahead.

🔎 Editor’s Note (iNewsAfrica): This story goes beyond uranium. It is a lens into Africa’s fight for economic sovereignty in a world where arbitration courts, foreign investors, and global powers all stake competing claims on the continent’s future.

About the Author

Dr. Michael O. Omoruyi is an IT specialist, adjunct professor, entrepreneur, and author of From Grit to Grace: A Memoir of Roots, Resilience, and Reinvention. Founder of iNewsAfrica, he is committed to amplifying authentic African voices, bridging the gap between the continent and its diaspora, and championing digital sovereignty for Africa in the 21st century.

From Grit to Grace: A Memoir of Roots, Resilience and Reinvention