Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.

France commits a new colonial environmental catastrophe in Niger

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 24 Jan 2023 23:00
  • 5 Shares
3 Min Read

Niger's ex-colonizer, France, left wallowing 20 million tonnes of radioactive waste in the country.

  • x
  • Areva's Somair uranium mine near Arlit in northern Niger. (Reuters)
    Areva's Somair uranium mine near Arlit in northern Niger (Reuters)

After the closure of a uranium mine managed by the French corporation Orano (formerly Areva), the northern town of Arlit in Niger has been left wallowing in 20 million tonnes of radioactive waste. Residents in the vicinity are exposed to levels of radiation that exceed the range suggested by health professionals.

It is worth noting that Niger is the world’s fifth-largest uranium producer.

The African country supplied roughly 25% of the European Union's uranium supplies in 2021, assisting in the production of power for millions of households.

In the 1970s, the French nuclear corporation - then Areva and now Orano - began mining the country's uranium reserves. The Cominak mines near the northern town of Arlit were closed down 47 years later, in March 2021.

According to the French-based Independent Research and Information Commission on Radioactivity, the mine's closure forced the local community to live with 20 million tonnes of radioactive muck on the mine's site (CRIIRAD).

Following a study of the area in 2009, it was discovered that the level of radioactivity was 450,000 Becquerels per kilo - far over the internationally recommended radiation levels.

On his account, CRIIRAD’s scientist Bruno Chareyron said, “The waste produces a radioactive gas known as radon. The strong wind of the desert spreads radioactive dust which is then inhaled by the surrounding population.” 

Related News

Smotrich claims France and allies undermine 'Israel'

French public opinion divided on sending troops to Ukraine, poll shows

Impact des activités d’extraction de l’uranium par les filiales d’#ORANO au #Niger : des millions de tonnes de déchets
radioactifs non confinés - La CRIIRAD dénonce un héritage empoisonné en vidéo : https://t.co/SaRZBpTy1B #déchets #radioactivité #Cominak pic.twitter.com/grXW1oWRqr

— CRIIRAD (@CRIIRAD) January 19, 2023

To make matters worse, the soil and subsurface water has been poisoned as well. The 100,000 people who live in the area have no choice but to continue drinking that water.

Exposure to such dangerously high levels of radiation can result in birth abnormalities and cancer, not to mention a variety of other problems.

Greenpeace, for example, conducted an investigation and revealed that many former Cominak workers are suffering from inexplicable ailments affecting the skin, liver, kidneys, and lungs.

“Our heritage is an enduring pollution," Al Moustapha Al Hacen, founder of the local environment protection NGO Aghir in’Man, divulged.

“There is no wildlife left, nor any plants alive around Arlit,” he tersely stated.

France retained its colonies in Africa roughly until the 1960s, exercising its dominance over North, Western, and Equatorial Africa. Shortly after the formation of the Fifth French Republic in 1958, countries such as Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Congo, Chad, and the Central African Republic gained independence.

Despite this fact, Paris failed to completely abandon the region, continuing to intervene in its internal affairs, including by military means.

  • France
  • Colonialism
  • Niger
  • Radioactive waste

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
People protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, on Friday, September 27, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' stops unfunded diplomacy ahead of UN, October 7 memorial

An Israeli Air Force fighter jet releases flares over the Gaza Strip, is seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

OIC summit draft: Israeli attack on Qatar risks normalization

People shout slogans and hold Palestinian flags while protesting during the twenty-first stage of La Vuelta cycling race from Alalpardo to Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP)
Sports

Pro-Palestine protests force abrupt end to Vuelta a España finale

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime faces growing isolation over Qatar strike: Reports

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS