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☆ Shell to Sell Its Onshore Nigeria Oil Business for $1.3 Billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Stanley Reed | More About Stanley Reed | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Shell said Tuesday that it had agreed to sell its onshore oil and gas business in Nigeria to a group dominated by local companies for $1.3 billion. The transaction is an effort by Europe’s largest energy company to reduce its risks in the country that is Africa’s largest oil producer. Nigeria has long been a cornerstone for Shell, but also the source of a damaging legal and environmental legacy. Other partners in the joint venture include Nigeria’s state oil company, which has a 55 percent stake, and France’s TotalEnergies. Shell will continue its offshore energy drilling in Nigeria, as well as its liquefied natural gas operations there.

Persons: Shell, France’s Organizations: Shell Locations: Nigeria, Niger Delta

☆ Fact Check: Niger did not hike uranium price to 200 euros per kg after 2023 coup
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Niger did not raise the price of uranium from 0.80 euros per kilogram to 200 euros per kg following its July 2023 coup, contrary to claims made online. Uranium is traded in an open market and governments do not directly control uranium prices, experts told Reuters. Market data also show that uranium prices were much higher than 0.80 euros per kg before the coup and have not neared 200 euros in the months since. Reuters previously addressed the false claim that Niger banned uranium exports to France and the EU in an August fact check. Niger did not raise the price of uranium from 0.80 euros per kg (0.38 USD per lb) to 200 euros per kg following the July 2023 coup in the West African nation.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Euratom, Jonathan Hinze, UxC, ” Hinze, ”, Kathleen Tanzy, Tanzy, Read Organizations: Uranium, Reuters, Nigerien, Nuclear Association, European Union, Facebook, P, Commodity, EU, Thomson Locations: Niger, Russia, France, West African

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Niger’s deposed President Mohamed Bazoum on Monday ahead of an expected decision by the Biden administration to formally declare that his overthrow was a coup d’etat. “The United States calls for the immediate release of all those unjustly detained following the military takeover,” the department said. The administration had been delaying a coup decision because Niger plays a critical role in U.S. counterterrorism activity in Africa's Sahel region. The officials could not say if the expected coup determination would result in the withdrawal of any U.S. personnel from Niger. The U.S., France and other European countries had poured hundreds of millions of dollars into shoring up the Nigerien military.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Mohamed Bazoum, Biden, Blinken, Blinken “, Blinken's, —, Emmanuel Macron Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, The State Department, State Department, Pentagon, Islamic, Nigerien Locations: Niger, United States, Sahel, The U.S, France

☆ Niger Junta Ends Military Accord With Benin Amid Regional Standoff
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

NIAMEY (Reuters) - The junta in Niger on Tuesday said it would end a military pact with neighbouring Benin, accusing it of authorising the deployment of troops on its territory for a possible military intervention against Niger by the West African regional bloc. The junta in a statement read on national television said Benin had "authorised the deployment of soldiers, mercenaries, and war materials" in the context of the possible ECOWAS intervention. As a result the new Nigerien authorities "decide to renounce the military cooperation agreement (with Benin)," it said. ECOWAS has not shared any details about possible deployments and Niger last week said talks with the bloc continued. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who holds ECOWAS' revolving chairmanship, has suggested that a nine-month transition back to civilian rule could satisfy regional powers.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Boureima Balima, Alessandra Prentice, Grant McCool Organizations: West African, ECOWAS, Nigerien Locations: NIAMEY, Niger, Benin, Nigerian

☆ Fact Check-Niger has not banned uranium exports to France and EU
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The 122-word caption reads in part: “Uranium Ban in Niger Sparks Protests and Energy Crisis in France and the EU’ Niger, with the world’s 7th largest uranium deposits, has banned exports to France and the EU. Despite reported fears of it happening, the country did not declare any plans to halt uranium exports as of the time of writing, Aug. 16 (here). RUSSIAN OILAlthough the European Union has banned certain types of oil supplies from Russia, the region continues to receive Russian oil. In addition, Russian pipeline oil supplies to the EU are excluded from the EU ban. Niger has not announced the halt of uranium exports to France and the EU, as of Aug. 16, and parts of the EU do still receive Russian oil.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Euratom, Read Organizations: European Union, Niger Sparks, Energy, EU, World Nuclear Association, Reuters, Canada, French Le Monde Locations: Niger, France, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Nigerien, Kazakhstan, French, Bulgaria, Russian, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic

The military takeover in Niger has upended years of Western counterterrorism efforts in West Africa and now poses wrenching new challenges for the Biden administration’s fight against Islamist militants on the continent. American-led efforts to degrade terrorist networks around the world have largely succeeded in longtime jihadist hot spots like Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. Not so in Africa, especially in the Sahel, the vast, semiarid region south of the Sahara where groups linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State are gaining ground at an alarming pace. Niger, an impoverished nation of 25 million people that is nearly twice the size of Texas, has recently been the exception to that trend. Niger has slowed, but not stopped, a wave of extremists pushing south to coastal states.

Persons: Biden, Mohamed Bazoum Organizations: Islamic, Nigerien Locations: Niger, West Africa, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Africa, Sahel, Al Qaeda, Texas

☆ Niger junta says open to talks as Putin, US stress peace
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Felix Onuah | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Souleymane Ag Anara/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 15 (Reuters) - Niger's junta on Tuesday said that it was open to talks to resolve a regional crisis caused by last month's military coup, while Russia and the United States called for a peaceful resolution. Singh declined to call the takeover a coup but said it "certainly looks like an attempted coup." Military leaders in Mali and Burkina Faso have kicked out troops from former colonial power France and strengthened ties with Moscow. Putin has called for a return to constitutional order in Niger, while Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin welcomed the army takeover and offered his services. Support for Russia has appeared to surge in Niger since the coup, with junta supporters waving Russian flags at rallies and calling for France to disengage.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, Mahamat Deby, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Assimi Goita, Sabrina Singh, Joe Biden's, Singh, Bola Tinubu, Russia's Wagner, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Felix Onuah, Mahamat Ramadane, Idrees Ali, Nellie Peyton, John Stonestreet, Estelle Shirbon, Alexandra Hudson, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, West, Economic, West African States, ECOWAS, Islamic, Twitter, Military, Thomson Locations: Nigerien, Niamey, Niger, Russia, United States, Ghana, al Qaeda, Islamic State, West, Central Africa, Russian, West Africa's, Central Africa's, West Africa, Mali, Burkina Faso, France, Moscow, Bazoum, Western, U.S, Germany, Italy, Paris, Abuja, Chad, Washington

Niamey, Niger CNN —Mohamed Bazoum, the democratically elected president of Niger, said he is being kept isolated and forced to eat dry rice and pasta by the military junta who overthrew him and are refusing to cede power despite international pressure. Nigeria supplies much of neighboring Niger’s electricity but cut off the power in response to the coup. All of the perishable food he was supplied with has since gone bad, and he is now eating dry pasta and rice. Nuland’s meeting Monday with senior coup leaders lasted more two hours, consisting of “extremely frank and at times quite difficult” conversations. CNN has requested comment from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the French military.

Persons: Niger CNN — Mohamed Bazoum, Bazoum, president’s, State Victoria Nuland, Antony Blinken –, Abdourahamane Tiani, ”, Maj, Amadou Abradamane, Abradamane Organizations: Niger CNN, CNN, State Victoria, State Department, Protesters, Getty, United Nations, Economic, West African States, ECOWAS, Junta, TV5, Nigerien, Resistance Council, Republic, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Niamey, Niger, Nigeria, Nigerien, France, N’djamena

When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria took the helm of the West African regional bloc of countries last month, he thundered before a roomful of his presidential peers that he would show no tolerance for military coups in an area that had faced five in less than three years. “We will not allow coup after coup,” he said, drawing a round of applause. Now, the deadline has passed, Niger’s president — Mohamed Bazoum — is still held hostage in his residence and Mr. Tinubu is facing a backlash in his own country. Senators, religious leaders and civil society organizations in northern Nigeria oppose a war with a neighbor that they say would further destabilize both countries, whose militaries were already spread thin fighting off Islamist militants. Nigerian security forces are also combating kidnappers, extortion rings and oil thieves.

Persons: Bola Ahmed Tinubu, “, ”, Mr, Tinubu, — Mohamed Bazoum — Organizations: West African, Economic Locations: Nigeria, Niger, West African States, Nigerian

General Abdourahmane Tiani, who was declared as the new head of state of Niger by leaders of a coup, arrives to meet with ministers in Niamey, Niger July 28, 2023. REUTERS/Balima Boureima/File PhotoDAKAR, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Niger's regional and Western allies have announced a series of sanctions against the country following the July 26 coup. These sanctions have been imposed on Niger since the coup:WEST AFRICA REGIONAL BLOCThe Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Monetary and Economic Union have imposed some of the most stringent sanctions on Niger so far since the coup. NETHERLANDSThe Dutch government, which was supporting development and security programmes in Niger, temporarily suspended its direct cooperation with the government following the coup. WORLD BANKThe World Bank suspended disbursements until further notice, except for private-sector partnerships which it said will continue with caution.

Persons: Abdourahmane Tiani, Balima, Bate Felix, Anait, Daphne Psaledakis, Gabriela Baczynska, Juliette Jabkhiro, Nick Macfie, Angus MacSwan Organizations: REUTERS, WEST AFRICA REGIONAL BLOC, Economic, West African States, ECOWAS, West, Monetary and Economic Union, Ivory, European Union, STATES, ., CANADA Canada, World Bank, Bank, Thomson Locations: Niger, Niamey, DAKAR, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, West Africa's, FRANCE France, France, Mali, Burkina Faso, NETHERLANDS, Dutch, United States, U.S, Africa, Washington, Brussels, Paris

☆ Niger’s coup leader faces a deadline to cede power. Will military action come next?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Stephanie Busari | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The leaders of a coup in Niger are digging in their heels as they face a looming deadline from neighbors to give up power or face possible military action. President Bazoum’s election win in 2021 marked a relatively peaceful transfer of power, capping years of military coups following Niger’s independence from France in 1960. ECOWAS has shown a willingness to take action in cases where leaders refuse to relinquish power or when political crises escalate. The US and France consider Niger a critical ally and both countries have military bases in Niger. That kind of sentiment suggests that even if the stated goal is to restore democracy, a military intervention may not be welcomed across the country.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, “, Bazoum’s, Bazoum, Abdourahamane Tiani, Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, Security Abdel, Fatau Musah, Oluseyi, ” Adetayo, Jammeh, Nigeriens, Russia, Wagner, ” Ali Sounama Organizations: CNN, Regional, Economic, West African States, Nigerien, The Washington Post, ECOWAS, Local, Political Affairs, Peace, Security Locations: Niger, Sahel, Mali, Burkina Faso, France, Nigeria, Senegal, Bazoum, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, West Africa, Niamey, Nigerien

☆ Niger's ousted prime minister hopes talks can end military coup
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/5] Niger's Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou speaks about the situation in Niger during an exclusive interview with Reuters, in Paris, France, August 5, 2023. Niger's military takeover, the seventh in West and Central Africa in three years, has rocked the western Sahel region, one of the poorest in the world, which has strategic significance to global powers. Still, as the deadline loomed, Bazoum's Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou believed a last-minute intervention was possible, he said in an interview in Paris. France said on Saturday it will support efforts to overturn the coup, without specifying whether its backing would entail military assistance for an ECOWAS intervention. Niger's neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso, where military juntas have also seized power in recent years, said they would support Niger in the event of military intervention.

Persons: Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, Stephanie Lecocq, Niger's, Mohamed Bazoum, Mahamadou, Bazoum, General Abdourahamane Tiani, Abdel, Fatau Musah, Mahamadou shrugged, Julitte Jabkhiro, Michel Rose, Clotaire Achi, Louise Dalmasso, Edward McAllister, Jan Harvey Organizations: Niger's, Reuters, REUTERS, Economic, West African States, ECOWAS, Sunday, Bazoum's, Thomson Locations: Niger, Paris, France, Stephanie Lecocq NIAMEY, West, Central Africa, Niamey, Rome, China, Europe, Russia, Nigeria's, Abuja, Mali, Burkina Faso

☆ Niger: US State Department orders evacuation of non-emergency personnel
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The US State Department on Wednesday ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family members from Niger following last week’s military takeover. Subsequent events have severely limited flight options,” the State Department said in an updated travel advisory. “We’re working really, really hard to see if we can turn this around,” a senior State Department official said Monday. On Tuesday, however, the US Embassy in Niger asked Americans who are in the country and wish to leave to register with the US State Department. The State Department created a similar form in the midst of deadly violence in Sudan, when scores of Americans were in need of assistance to depart the country.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, “, Matt Miller, ”, ” Miller, Kathleen FitzGibbon, Miller Organizations: CNN, US State Department, Wednesday, “, State Department, Department, Embassy, Nigerien, Nigerien Party for Democracy and, Getty, CNN Wednesday, The State Department Locations: Niger, Embassy Niamey, ”, U.S, Niamey, AFP, West, Sahel, Africa, Mali, Burkina Faso, United States, Nigerien, Sudan, France, Italy

PARIS, Aug 1 (Reuters) - France will evacuate French and European citizens from Niger, starting on Tuesday, its foreign ministry said, days after a junta seized power in the west African country. On Sunday, supporters of the junta burned French flags and attacked the French embassy in Niger's capital, Niamey, prompting police to fire volleys of tear gas in response. According to the French foreign ministry website, there were just under 1,200 French nationals in Niger in 2022. Niger is the world's seventh-biggest producer of uranium, the radioactive metal widely used for nuclear energy and treating cancer. But the juntas of neighbouring Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea all voiced their support for the coup's leaders on Monday.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Catherine Colonna, BFM, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Russia's Wagner, Bazoum, Michel Rose, Sudip Kar, Layli, Blandine Henault, Charlotte van Campenhout, Ingrid Melander, Christina Fincher, Alex Richardson Organizations: French, Regional, ECOWAS, Thomson Locations: France, Niger, West, Central Africa, Russia, Niger's, Niamey, Russian, Sahel, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea

DAKAR, July 31 (Reuters) - Niger's regional and Western partners have announced a series of sanctions against the country following last week's coup. Another 978.47 billion francs was supposed to come from project grants and loans from external partners. These sanctions have been imposed on Niger since the coup:WEST AFRICA REGIONAL BLOCThe Economic Community of West African States and the West African Monetary and Economic Union have imposed some of the most stringent sanctions on Niger so far since the coup. Niger had planned to raise 490 billion CFA francs ($834 million) from the regional debt market in 2023. FRANCEFrance, another major partner of its former colony, suspended development aid and budget support with immediate effect, demanding a prompt return to constitutional order.

Persons: Daphne Psaledakis, Gabriela Baczynska, Juliette Jabkhiro, Nick Macfie Organizations: WEST AFRICA REGIONAL BLOC, Economic, West, Monetary and Economic Union, European Union, UNITED STATES, ., Thomson Locations: DAKAR, Niger, West African States, FRANCE France, France, Mali, Burkina Faso, United States, Washington, Brussels, Paris

☆ France condemns anti-French unrest in Niger following coup
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, July 30 (Reuters) - France condemned violence against its diplomatic mission in Niger and pledged to react strongly to any attack on its nationals or interests, as anti-French protests took place outside the French Embassy in Niamey on Sunday following last week's military coup. In a separate statement, the Foreign Affairs ministry condemned all violence against diplomatic missions and called on Niger authorities to protect the French mission as required under international law. France, the former colonial power in Niger, announced on Saturday it was cutting all development aid to the country and called for Bazoum to be returned to office following his ouster late on Wednesday. Niger has been a security partner of France, and the United States, which have used it as a base to fight an Islamist insurgency in West and Central Africa's wider Sahel region. Reporting by Elizabeth Pineau and Layli Foroudi Editing by Bernadette Baum and Frances KerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron's, Macron, Mohamed Bazoum, Elizabeth Pineau, Bernadette Baum, Frances Kerry Organizations: Foreign Affairs, Thomson Locations: France, Niger, Niamey, Niger Mahamadou, . Niger, United States, West, Central

[1/9] Demonstrators gather in support of the putschist soldiers in Niamey, the capital city of Niger July 30, 2023. Images showed fires at the walls of the French Embassy and people being loaded into ambulances with bloodied legs. Military officials involved in the coup would be banned from travelling and have their assets frozen, it added. The Niger military rulers later asked protesters to abstain from vandalism and destruction of property. The European Union and France have cut off financial support to Niger and the United States has threatened to do the same.

Persons: Stringer, Mohammed Bazoum, General Abdourahamane Tiani, Amadou Abdramane, Sani Idrissa, Russia's Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Boureima Balima, Moussa Aksar, Felix Onuah, Elizabeth Pineau, Bate Felix, Andrew Cawthorne, Frances Kerry Organizations: REUTERS, Pro, Niamey Military, Sahel region's, French Embassy, Economic, West, West African Economic, Monetary Union, Military, United Nations, African Union, European Union, World Bank, The, ECOWAS, Thomson Locations: Niamey, Niger, Sahel, NIAMEY, ABUJA, Niger's, Nigeria, States, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, United States, France, The United States, Italy, Germany, French, Niger national, Russian, Abuja, Paris

☆ Protesters descend on French Embassy in Niger shouting 'long live Putin'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Omar Hama Saley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Niamey, Niger CNN —Tense and sometimes violent scenes played out in front of the French Embassy in Niger Sunday as thousands of people who support a military coup voiced anger over France’s influence in its former colony. Some protesters tore down a plaque identifying the Embassy, stomped on it and then replaced it with Russian and Nigerien flags. Shouts of “long live Putin,” “long live Russia” and “down with France” could be heard among the crowds. President Emmanuel Macron’s office said France would immediately retaliate against anyone who attacks French nationals or facilities in Niger. Niger’s military leaders may have found one potential ally: the country’s eastern neighbor, Chad.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Mohamed Bazoum, Putin, ”, Emmanuel Macron’s, Bazoum, Stringer, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, ‘ We’re, I’ve, Karimou Sidi, “ Organizations: Niger CNN, Embassy, Kremlin, Russian, Nigerien, Niger, National Council for, Homeland, Reuters, West African States, Sunday, ECOWAS, European Union, ” Locations: Niamey, Niger, stomped, Nigerien, Russia, France, Reuters Niger, Republic of Niger, ”, Chad, Niger’s, Africa ’ Niger, French, Kanto, Africa, ” Kanto, St, Petersburg, Ukraine, Sahel, Burkina Faso

☆ Prigozhin blames former colonizers for situation in Niger without proof and hints Wagner is ready to help
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —While the international community, including many African states, have condemned the coup in Niger, Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin has his own take. Niger was once a French colony and, before this week’s putsch, it had been one of the few democracies in the region. He said that his private military company, Wagner, was capable of dealing with situations like that playing out in Niamey, the Nigerien capital. And this is the (the reason for) love for PMC (private military company) Wagner, this is the high efficiency of PMC Wagner. Because a thousand soldiers of PMC Wagner are able to establish order and destroy terrorists, preventing them from harming the peaceful population of states,” he said.

Persons: Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Prigozhin’s missive, Wagner, ” Prigozhin, “, PMC Wagner, ”, Prigozhin’s, Mohamed Bazoum Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, PMC, PMC Wagner, Central African, Russian Foreign Ministry Locations: Niger, Russian, French, Belarus, St . Petersburg, Russia, Niamey, Nigerien, Mali, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Central African Republic

☆ Niger coup leaders dissolve govt, declare Tiani head of state
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Moussa Aksar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

NIAMEY, July 28 (Reuters) - Leaders of the coup in Niger declared General Abdourahamane Tiani as the new head of state on Friday, and said they had suspended the constitution and dissolved all former institutions after overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum. He represents the state of Niger in international relations," an officer said, reading out a statement. African countries, Western powers, regional and international organizations have reacted with alarm to the coup in Niger, insisting that Bazoum be freed and constitutional order restored. Niger borders three countries - Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad - that have also experienced military coups in the last two years. Niger so far has held them off better than Mali and Burkina Faso, where violence has only worsened since the military coups.

Persons: Abdourahamane Tiani, Mohamed Bazoum, Tiani, Bazoum, Josep Borrell, Kamala Harris, Boris Pistorius, Bate Felix, Anait, Nellie Peyton, John Stonestreet, Angus MacSwan, Nick Macfie Organizations: National Council, Bazoum, REUTERS, Islamic, West African States, European Union, United, European, EU, German, Spiegel, Thomson Locations: NIAMEY, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, France, Niamey, al Qaeda, Islamic State, West Africa's, Nigeria, Guinea, United States, Africa, EU, Germany, Italy

☆ Niger response: 'Washington has to thread a very difficult needle'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —The United States and its Western allies are faced with a difficult conundrum as they navigate potential responses to the military takeover in Niger if democratic rule is not restored. Experts told CNN that punitive measures could push Niger toward Russian mercenary groups like Wagner and away from its partners in the West. US officials have said there are no indications that the organization was involved in the military takeover. We don’t really know who this new general is” who has seized power, she told CNN. Felbab-Brown told CNN that Prigozhin is trying to “personally” take advantage, given his “precarious” place following his failed revolt.

Persons: Biden, Vedant Patel, John Kirby, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, ”, Cameron Hudson, ‘, Antony Blinken, Vanda Felbab, Brown, Bob Menendez, Jim Risch, Kirby, Mohamed Bazoum, Gen, Abdourahamane Tiani, Bazoum, “, ” Hudson, Kamissa Camara, Camara, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, We’re, ” Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin, “ It’s, Prigozhin, Putin, shouldn’t, ” Kirby, Blinken, United Nations Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Kamala Harris, Bola Tinubu, African Affairs Molly Phee, Hassoumi Massoudou, Mahamadou Issoufou “, Patel Organizations: CNN, US State Department, Nigerien, State Department, National Security Council, Experts, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Central African, West, Brookings, Senate Foreign Relations, Democratic, US Institute of Peace, Russian Foreign Ministry, African Union, Economic, West African States, United Nations, African Affairs, Nigerien Foreign, ” State Department Locations: United States, Niger, Russian, Africa, “ Washington, Sahel, Mali, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Niamey, “, Hudson, Russia, St . Petersburg, Moscow, Sudan, New Zealand, Nigeria

CNN —A Niger general, Abdourahamane Tiani, appeared on state television as the country’s new leader following a military coup that sparked international condemnation. Tiani said in the broadcast that Wednesday’s coup was motivated by both the desire to “preserve our homeland” in a context of a “deteriorating security situation,” and poor economic and social governance. French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that the coup was “deeply dangerous for Niger and the whole region,” and called for Bazoum’s release. However, a senior official loyal to Bazoum has suggested there is discord among coup leaders. The aide spoke on condition of not being identified because of the security situation.

Persons: Abdourahamane Tiani, Tiani, “, Mohamed Bazoum’s, Abdourahamane, ” Bazoum, Mahamadou Issoufou, insurgencies, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, –, Catherine Colonna, Bazoum, ”, they’ve, United Nations Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Bazoum “, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Mahamat, General Antonio Guterres, Maj, Amadou Abdramane, ” Abdramane Organizations: CNN, African, AFP, Télé, Getty, Nigerien, Union, Bazoum, National Council for, ECOWAS, United Nations, African Union Commission, RIA Novosti, UN Locations: Niger, France, Télé Sahel, Sahel, AFP, Mali, Burkina Faso, United States, Papua New Guinea, Niamey

☆ Wagner boss' whereabouts, UN chief climate scientist says it's not too late -- and fears for Niger
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Photographs of Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin appear to show him in St. Petersburg on the sidelines of Putin's summit with African leaders. Niger's turmoil prompts fear in the West of Niger drifting away. Scientists say July will be the hottest month - and we speak to the UN's new chief climate scientist about what can be done. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin Organizations: Apple, Google, Reuters, Thomson Locations: St . Petersburg, West, Niger

☆ Factbox: Uranium mines in Niger, world's 7th biggest producer
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Niger is the world's seventh-biggest producer of uranium, according to the World Nuclear Association (WNA). Below are details of Niger's uranium deposits and mines:PRODUCTIONNiger, which has Africa's highest-grade uranium ores, produced 2,020 metric tons of uranium in 2022, about 5% of world mining output, according to the WNA. Niger has one major mining operation in the north operated by France's state-owned Orano, another major mine which closed in 2021, with one under development. French nuclear power plants source less than 10% of their uranium from Niger, Orano added. IMOURARENThis deposit about 50 miles south of Arlit contains one of the largest reserves in the world, according to Orano.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Orano, Eric Onstad, Nick Macfie Organizations: Niger, World Nuclear Association, Somair, Arlit, Thomson Locations: Niger, Kazakhstan, Canada, Namibia, Arlit, Orano, Niger's, Akokan

CNN —The leader of Niger has reportedly been seized by members of the presidential guard, triggering warnings from regional powers a coup is underway. They said heavily armed members of the Presidential Guard began assembling outside the Presidential Palace early on Wednesday morning. The journalist observed roughly twenty members of the Presidential Guard outside the palace complex later in the day. A statement on the presidency’s social media channels said President Mohamed Bazoum is “doing well.” CNN cannot verify the statement. Boureima Hama/AFP/Getty ImagesNigerian president Bola Tinubu – the current chair of ECOWAS – has also issued a statement condemning “unpleasant developments” in Niger.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, ”, Boureima, Bola Tinubu, –, Tinbu, Bazoum Organizations: CNN, West African States, “, Presidential Guard, Republic, Army, National Guard, “ ECOWAS, United States Africa Command, Reuters, Agence France, Presse, country’s Ministry of Defence, Ministry, Interior, la Republique, Agency, Getty Images, ECOWAS Locations: Niger, Niamey, ”, West, Republic, United, AFP, “, Rue, Boureima Hama, Republic of Niger, West Africa, France

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