Niger Nationalises Sole Industrial Gold Mine

Niger’s military government has announced the nationalisation of the country’s only industrial gold mine, accusing its Australian operator of serious failings and vowing to place control of natural resources firmly in the hands of its citizens. The junta, which took power in a 2023 coup, has framed the move as part of a broader strategy to reclaim economic sovereignty while tackling the country’s deep-rooted security challenges.

The Societe des Mines du Liptako (SML), located on the banks of the River Niger, has been operated by Australian company McKinel Resources Limited since 2019, when it acquired a majority stake from a public firm. However, in an order read on state television, junta leader General Abdourahamane Tiani accused the company of “serious breaches” and mismanagement, claiming the mine had slipped into an “alarming economic situation” under McKinel’s ownership.

Officials said the company failed to deliver on a $10 million investment plan, leading to unpaid taxes, wage arrears, staff layoffs, mounting debts and production stoppages. In 2023, industrial gold output from the mine was recorded at 177 kilogrammes, while artisanal miners across Niger produced around 2.2 tonnes, according to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

The junta also linked its decision to the May 2024 bomb attack in the Tillaberi region, which killed at least eight mine workers. The area, plagued by jihadist violence, is heavily militarised, with over 2,000 soldiers deployed to counter insurgent groups operating in the west of the country.

This is not the first time Niger has taken a hard line against foreign mining interests. In June, authorities nationalised the local branch of French uranium giant Orano, following similar moves by military-led governments in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso. In a statement, the junta said nationalising SML aligns with its “vision to promote the full appropriation of natural resources by the Nigerien people,” signalling a continued shift away from foreign control of the country’s mineral wealth.