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Uranium is France’s major strategic economic interest in the Sahel,

How long before the bombings hit Paris?

Niger’s Uranium Facilities Under Assault Oil Price, By John Daly, 03 June 2013 One of the scariest scenarios for Western intelligence analysts is the possible nexus between terrorism and nuclear materials Recent events in Africa have heightened these scenarios.

Niger Defense Minister Mahamadou Karidjo told a press conference, “The situation is under control and the search for the other attackers is under way. There will be a 72-hour period of national mourning starting from today.”

The Mouvement pour le Tawhîd et du Jihad en Afrique de l’Ouest (“Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa,” MUJAO), formed in December 2011, one of the groups fighting the French military in Mali since January, claimed responsibility. MUJAO spokesman Abu Walid Sahraoui said, “Thanks to Allah, we have carried out two operations against the enemies of Islam in Niger. We attacked France and Niger for its cooperation with France in the war against Sharia (Islamic law.)”…….

Somaïr is 64 percent owned by Areva and 36 percent by Niger, and last year produced 3,065 tons of uranium. Uranium currently produces 5 percent of Niger’s budget revenues but Niger, the world’s fourth largest producer of uranium, is one of the poorest countries of the world and its government has repeatedly criticized its “very unbalanced” partnership with Areva and called for renegotiating the terms of its contract.

Uranium is France’s major strategic economic interest in the Sahel, hardly surprising, given that France is the world’s most nuclear-dependent country, with its 58 nuclear power plants producing 75 percent of the country’s electricity. Roughly a quarter of the uranium fueling France’s NPPs comes from Niger, where France has been mining since 1969…….

How long before the bombings hit Paris?

June 4, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Niger, safety