European Parliament Calls for Regime Change in Niger, and It’s Not About Democracy

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on March 12, 2026, calling for the “immediate and unconditional” release of Niger’s detained former president, Mohamed Bazoum, and demanding a return to democratic rule . With 524 votes in favor, two against, and 29 abstentions, the non-binding resolution warns that keeping Bazoum imprisoned beyond the official end of his mandate on April 2 would constitute a “serious failure” . French Member of the European Parliament Christophe Gomart, a retired general who introduced the resolution, led the charge with pointed remarks about Bazoum’s cooperation with European security interests before his overthrow .

It is appropriate to recall that President Bazoum, democratically elected, was the main partner of the European forces in the Sahel, contributing to the fight against Islamist terrorism, against arms trafficking, against human trafficking, and to regional stability, Gomart said during the parliamentary debate

We cannot remain silent any longer while a key partner of Europe remains imprisoned. What example of loyalty would the European Union give to its partners?. Gomart also took aim at Niger’s current military leadership, claiming, The military junta leaves its territory prey to jihadist groups, responsible for numerous deadly attacks.

But look closer at what’s really driving this. Since the July 2023 coup that brought General Abdourahamane Tiani to power, Niger has systematically dismantled the neo-colonial architecture that allowed France and Europe to extract the country’s wealth for decades . In June 2025, the government announced the nationalization of Somair, a joint venture between French state nuclear group Orano and Niger’s state-owned company Sopamin that had been mining uranium since 1971. The junta accused Orano of disproportionate distribution of profits from Nigerien uranium production and seized roughly 1,150 metric tons of uranium yellowcake concentrate, worth an estimated €300 million.

Niger’s mining minister Ousmane Abarchi has been clear about the new direction. The government is in talks with companies from Russia, China, and other nations about selling uranium mined in the country. In a provocative gesture, General Tiani offered to return to Orano its 63.4 percent share of 156,231 tons of uranium accumulated before nationalization, while making clear that all uranium produced after the junta took power remains the exclusive property of Niger. The authorities claim to have invested 24 billion CFA francs to maintain operations after Orano’s withdrawal.

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This is what truly stings in Brussels and Paris. Niger’s uranium has powered France’s nuclear reactors for decades, covering about 15 percent of France’s annual uranium needs . In 2022, Niger supplied European nuclear plants with roughly a quarter of their natural uranium . The country ranks seventh globally in uranium production, and its deposits are some of the richest in the world.

The European Parliament’s resolution also expresses concern about the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Niger, citing an increase in human and arms trafficking and irregular migration flows across the Sahel . But Human Rights Watch notes that Niger’s government reacted sharply to the European intervention, summoning the European Union’s representative in Niamey and accusing the EU of interfering in Niger’s internal affairs . The military government has extended the political transition for at least five years and continues to hold at least 30 officials from the former government without due process.

Since the coup, Niger has expelled French and American military forces and strengthened ties with Russia, joining Burkina Faso and Mali in the Alliance of Sahelian States . The European Union Institute for Security Studies acknowledges that “anti-Western sentiment and strategic hedging have led to the diversification of partnerships” in the region, with local leaders prioritizing “sovereignty and multi-alignment” . Russia has capitalized on the coups to position itself as a key partner, with roughly 2,000 Russian fighters now operating across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

The anger in Brussels isn’t really about Bazoum’s welfare or democratic principles. It’s about losing control. It’s about a former colony daring to claim its own resources. It’s about watching uranium that once powered French nuclear plants now being offered to Russia and China. They are angry because they can’t steal again, and no amount of emergency sessions or indignant speeches will change that.

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