Parquet national financier

Chad
Former head of intelligence kept in detention

Abderahman Moussa's request for provisional release was rejected by the Belgian courts on 6 November.

Congo
Old Congolese debts catch up with Egis

The French engineering company is being sued by its former sales representative in Congo, Cores, for several million euros in unpaid commission. At the heart of the dispute is a securitised €25m bond issued by the Congolese state.

Palace Intrigues
Mahamat Idriss Déby, Emmanuel Macron and Aziz Akhannouch

Intrigues big and small – every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

ChadMahamat Idriss Déby still shunning Paris

AfricaReunion of Macron's African ENA classmates in Paris

MoroccoThe truth behind exit of Akhannouch's secretary-general

Guinea
Paris and Conakry collaborate on tracking down Guinea's embezzled millions

France's PNF financial prosecutor's office and the Guinean judiciary have been in regular contact in recent months. Their exchanges have focused on tracking down assets allegedly misappropriated under former president Alpha Condé.

Morocco
Bugshan clan gears up to import Lamborghinis

Already importers of Hyundais and Aston Martins, the powerful Saudi family will soon be adding the Italian sports car to its Moroccan catalogue via Bugshan Automotive Group.

Southern Africa
Lychee trade hit by corruption allegations

Madagascan lychee exporters have lodged a complaint against the local branch of Transparency International, which has accused them of corruption. The affair, in which France's Compagnie fruitière and the Belgian firm Greenyard are implicated, is being followed closely by Western embassies.

Gabon
Swiss inquiry into alleged Santullo backhanders takes on international dimension

After four years of Swiss investigations into the payments allegedly made by construction firm Sericom to senior Gabonese officials, the Office of the Attorney General is seeking assistance from other national jurisdictions. For its part, the Santullo family is still trying to unfreeze its accounts, but so far in vain.

Central Africa, France
"Congo Hold-up" : France's financial prosecution service has begun investigating the BGFI

Gabon's BGFIBank group is being investigated by the French national financial prosecution service. The investigation concerns "suspect" movements of funds between its subsidiaries in the DRC and France.

Gabon
The discreet new Côte d'Azur life of Ali Bongo's half-brother

Based in Nice since November 2020, the Gabonese president's half-brother Christian Bongo still sits on the board of BGFI Congo and presides over SAREP, and he is now planning a comeback in one of his favourite sectors: private aviation.

France, Madagascar
Ex-minister Rolly Mercia paints himself as whistleblower as trial looms

Accused by his former boss, businessman Maminiaina Ravatomanga, of providing the French courts with wrongful information, former journalist and communications minister Rolly Mercia is calling on human rights organisations for help. The most recent is the African Union.

Guinea
Havas distances itself from Alpha Condé's presidential campaign

The French advertising and PR group Havas cancelled a press trip it organised to Guinea on October 4-8, less than ten days before the country goes to the polls to elect a president.

DRC
Congolese security services chase after undelivered wiretapping equipment

Italy's Teleconsult, a service provider for the Congolese telecoms and pay-TV sector and, more discreetly, for the country's security services, has taken legal action against the French businessman François Gontier for breach of contract.

Madagascar
Mamy Ravatomanga wins out over Samada

The businessman and presidential ally has turned to a new French service provider for airport security.

Madagascar
Mamy Ravatomanga makes most of relations with Serbia

The visit of the Serbian foreign minister Ivica Dacic to [...]

Madagascar, Mauritius
Mamy Ravatomanga upsets Mauritian protocol

During the visit of the Madagascan president to Mauritius, the presence of the businessman took the Mauritian authorities by surprise.