The MNJ also want a restriction of the area that will be affected by the expansion of the uranium mines, to protect the space they need to raise their animals.

In June 2007, the MNJ attacked northern Niger's main airport at Agadez and overran an army outpost in the Aïr Mountains taking over 70 Nigerien soldiers prisoner.

The company had been prospecting for uranium for some time in Teguidan Tessoumt in cooperation with the Niger government, and MNJ wanted them to cease their operations.

[7] On 22 June 2008, the MNJ kidnapped four employees of Areva, the French state nuclear corporation which has been exploiting northern Niger's uranium for over forty years.

[9] Aghaly Alambo, from Iferouane in northern Niger, was apparently inspired by the Mali based Tuareg group May 23, 2006 Democratic Alliance for Change (Mai 23, 2006 Alliance démocratique pour le changement - ADC), ex-combatants who led a short campaign in the north of Mali from May to July 2006, when they signed a peace deal with the Bamako government.