The junta still controls the major cities and remains "extremely dangerous" according to the UN special rapporteur on Myanmar.

So far the military juntas have refused to remain in the bloc despite efforts to persuade them.

The junta called these reports "baseless assertions" and a "campaign of intoxication orchestrated by adversaries of the Nigerien people aimed at undermining the morale of our troops and sowing division".

There is a bigger question, though, over how much the various ethnic insurgent groups are willing to prioritise the goal of overthrowing the military junta.

In this poisonous atmosphere of hostility and mistrust, Orano was an obvious and convenient target for junta retaliation.