After Military Withdrawal, Washington Returns to Niger with Massive Uranium Deal

The U.S. government has agreed to fund up to $414 million for a uranium project in Niger—according to the project developer—in a move described by sources as a win for Washington following two years of expelling all military forces from the West African country.

According to Reuters, the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has approved credit facilitations for the Dasa project, owned by Canadian mining company Global Atomic—which the company describes as containing Africa’s highest-grade uranium deposits—according to a statement released by the company on Wednesday.

This investment could bolster U.S. efforts to secure strategic uranium supplies, as Niger—the world’s seventh-largest uranium producer—is currently in dispute with state-backed French company Orano, which long dominated the country’s uranium sector.

Observers see this funding as a diplomatic and commercial breakthrough for Washington, whose relations with Niger deteriorated after the military government that seized power in the 2023 coup ordered U.S. troops to leave in 2024; the new leaders in Niamey have since relied on Russian paramilitary forces to take over security roles instead of Western allies.

Sources familiar with the efforts said the U.S. ambassador urged Washington to rebuild ties with Niamey and support the project, following the Trump administration’s return to power with renewed focus on securing deals across Africa.

The sources explained that the project was viewed as an opportunity to secure access to a strategic energy resource that might otherwise fall within the sphere of influence of rival powers.

A source familiar with discussions between Global Atomic and DFC said a breakthrough occurred this summer when CEO Stephen Roman traveled to Washington to resolve outstanding issues blocking project approval.

The project may also represent a rare bright spot in U.S.-Canadian relations, which have been strained amid ongoing trade tensions between the two neighboring countries. The Niger government has not responded to a request for comment.