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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Terrorists strike Areva in Niger |
| 2013-05-24 |
| The northern desert of Niger is host to world class uranium deposits, but unfortunately it is also playing host to terrorists. Paris-based Areva, one of the world's largest uranium miners and nuclear reactor builders, has suffered a deadly suicide bombing attack at its Somair mine near the town of Arlit, roughly 240-km north of Agadez. The attack was carried out in concert with a violent assault on a military base in the country. So far 23 people have been reported dead as a result of the two attacks. The terrorists descended on Somair at 5:30 in the morning and claimed the life of one of its workers, while another 14 were injured. The attack left the facility at Somair badly damaged with the crushing and grinding units taking the majority of the blow. All production has been halted as a result of the attack. An Islamist group, the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa, (MUJAO), is claiming responsibility. The group, along with al Qaeda, were part of the insurgency that took over most of northern Mali until being removed by a French lead offensive in January. In total 18 soldiers were killed, while Niger forces killed four of the attackers. A fifth terrorist was holding hostages in the military base. Areva is one of the country's most important investors, and the country is one of its key sources of production, as it accounted for roughly a third of all of Areva's U3O8 production. The miner produced more than 4,500 tonnes of U3O8 in country last year with roughly 3,000 of those tonnes coming from Somair. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #1 Double bombing in Niger may have links to Algeria attack A note purporting to be from former Al Qaeda operative Mokhtar Belmokhtar claimed responsibility for bombings at military camp and uranium mine in Niger. Belmokhtar plotted deadly attacks on Western firms in Algeria, and was thought to be killed in early March. |
| Posted by: tipper 2013-05-24 17:49 |