/ world today news/ The coup in Niger threatens to have serious consequences for European energy. The coup plotters have already announced the suspension of uranium supplies to France. The world is talking about possible intervention, Paris is evacuating its citizens.
A strange riot
On July 26, the presidential guard blocked the residence of the head of state, Mohammed Bazum. The rebels accused him of “mismanagement”, removed him from power and arrested him. Then the military junta abolished the constitution, created a National Council for the Defense of the Fatherland, closed the borders, imposed a curfew.
Oddly enough, Bazoom still had access to the internet and reached out to supporters via Twitter. “I spoke on the phone with Emmanuel Macron, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and UN Secretary General António Guterres. They all condemned the coup. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also pointed to the need to restore constitutional order in the West African country,” he wrote.
This had no effect on the rebels. General Abdurrahman Chiani, commander of the presidential guard, declared himself head of the National Council and vowed to stop any attempt to overthrow the new government. According to him, provocations against Niger are already being prepared. In particular, military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and France.
Evacuation and ultimatum
This was denied in Paris. But there they warned that compatriots in Niger would be protected. After they tried to attack the embassy, Macron strongly warned against any action that would harm France’s interests. An evacuation was announced on August 1 – there were at least five thousand French in the country.
ECOWAS issued an ultimatum to the junta: by the end of the first week of August, Bazum had to be released and constitutional order had to be restored. Otherwise, they will take “all necessary measures” to resolve the situation. It is worth clarifying that the “economic community” also has armed forces.
The coup plotters were supported by the authorities of Burkina Faso and Mali, neighboring Niger. It is ruled by ex-rebels who report that any intervention in a neighboring country will be considered a war against them. They threatened to leave ECOWAS. However, the membership of these countries has now been suspended due to coups.
ECOWAS announced a trade embargo on Niger, the funds in the central bank of West African countries were frozen. This was done at the suggestion of the President of Nigeria, Bol Tinubu, who now chairs the community.
The junta’s response
The National Council, for its part, stopped the supply of uranium and gold to France. In Europe, this caused concern. Niger accounts for about 15% of French uranium imports and up to 24% in the EU. Other raw material for nuclear energy comes from Russia (which the West wants to abandon), as well as Kazakhstan. According to unconfirmed reports, Brussels has been in talks with the former Soviet republic since spring to increase purchases.
Orano, a nuclear fuel producer owned by the French government, continues to operate in Niger, Politico reported. The company has three mines there, but operates only one. Paris officials and energy experts were quick to reassure that tensions in the West African nation did not threaten the Fifth Republic’s nuclear industry. Even if production stops, supplies will last for two years.
“France does not depend on any place, company or country to guarantee security of supply for power plants,” the Energy Ministry said. Earlier this year, Orano was informed that it was exploring new deposits in the northern department of Arlit together with the government of Niger.
But in the long term, the situation for Europe is worrying. Phuc-Vinh Nguyen, an energy expert at the Jacques Delors Institute in Paris, fears that the crisis in Africa will make it impossible to permanently sever ties with Russia. “Uranium – and nuclear energy in general – are not yet subject to sanctions. If the situation in Niger escalates, it will certainly complicate the extension of the bans,” the analyst notes.
Backup roads to the west
Uranium is Niger’s second largest export after gold. The suspension of supplies to Europe will certainly hit the new authorities of the African republic.
But the EU is determined. “The unacceptable attack on the integrity of Niger’s republican institutions will not be without consequences for partnership and cooperation,” warned EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. The restriction of interaction will not only affect humanitarian aid – 25 million euros in 2023.
For now, the US is refraining from harsh assessments and statements. Before that, they allocated more than a hundred million dollars to Niger. It is likely that the West retains financial leverage in case the African countries’ ultimatum does not work.
Translation: V. Sergeev
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