French mining firm to be tried over abductions in Niger Republic

A French uranium mining company accused of playing a part in the abduction of its workers by jihadists in Niger in 2010 is set to face trial, according to sources close to the case who spoke to AFP. Nuclear energy giant Areva, now operating under the name Orano, has been accused of underestimating the danger posed by Al-Qaeda militants in northern Niger, where the company was mining uranium. In 2010, armed men kidnapped seven of its employees in the town of Arlit, five French nationals, a Togolese, and a Madagascan. One of the French captives, Francoise Larribe, was released five months later along with the Togolese and Madagascan hostages. The remaining four French nationals were freed in October 2013, after Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility for their abduction. In late September, magistrates ordered Areva to stand trial, accusing the company of negligence and failing to take adequate security measures that could have prevented the kidnapping of its staff. However, Frances anti-terror prosecutors office opposed the trial and has appealed the decision, a judicial source said. The companys lawyer declined to comment, though the head of Arevas legal department previously denied any wrongdoing in 2022. Investigations found that the company had reached an agreement with Nigerien authorities for local troops to guard its mining sites, staff housing, and transportation routes. Olivier Morice, lawyer for one of the former hostages, Pierre Legrand, said it was unacceptable to note that despite numerous warnings to Areva, nothing was seriously done to protect employees on site.The post French mining firm to be tried over abductions in Niger Republic appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.