Quote Originally Posted by Kirkland Laing View Post
(Reuters) - France has ordered special forces to protect uranium sites run by French-owned Areva in Niger as the threat of attacks on its interests rises after its intervention against rebels in Mali, a military source said on Thursday.

[...]

Defense ministry officials declined to comment on the report and Areva said it did not talk about security issues.

France orders special forces to protect Niger uranium: source | Reuters
Here's the reason why:
"According to a parliamentary committee enquiring into France's supplies of uranium, about 18 percent of the raw material used to power France's 58 nuclear reactors came from Niger in 2008".