World Bank Tribunal Bars Niger Uranium Sales from Somaïr Mine

The World Bank's arbitration body has issued a ruling that prohibits Niger's government from trading uranium from the Somaïr mine, which was recently seized from the French nuclear-power company Orano SA by the country's military junta. The Somaïr mine, located in Niger, is a significant source of uranium for the global market. The World Bank's decision is a setback for Niger's new military government, which had sought to assert control over the country's natural resources. The ruling comes as a result of a legal dispute between Niger and Orano SA, the former operator of the Somaïr mine. The World Bank's arbitration body has ordered Niger to refrain from any commercial transactions related to the uranium from the Somaïr mine, effectively blocking the country's ability to sell the uranium on the global market. The decision highlights the complex legal and economic implications of the junta's seizure of the Somaïr mine and underscores the importance of the uranium industry in the region.