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
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Claims that the Israeli occupation has withdrawn from areas in the neighborhoods of al-Zaytoun, al-Tuffah, and al-Shujaiya are false
Hamas: The two delegations stressed that any negotiations must lead to the achievement of our people's goals and aspirations, foremost among which is ending the war and the complete withdrawal of enemy forces
Hamas: A delegation from the Hamas leadership, led by the head of the leadership council, Mohammad Darwish, met with an Islamic Jihad delegation, headed by its Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah

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

Legal troubles worsen for Le Pen as French far-right struggles: FT

France announces State of New Caledonia, except with a twist

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

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

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