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Vincent Bolloré and Son Accused of Corruption and Money Laundering in African Port Operations

A coalition of African NGOs has filed a legal complaint against the Bolloré Group, alleging systemic corruption and financial harm across five countries over two decades.

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Le terminal géré par un consortium comprenant notamment le groupe Bolloré dans le port de Kribi, au Cameroun, en 2018.
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Overview

  • The complaint accuses the Bolloré Group of securing African port concessions through favoritism, influence peddling, and illegal practices in Togo, Guinea, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cameroon.
  • Plaintiffs claim the group's actions caused significant financial losses, including $4.1 billion in Ghana and €60 million in unpaid fees and penalties in Cameroon.
  • French prosecutors have been investigating the Bolloré Group since 2013, with prior settlements including a €12 million fine for activities related to Guinea and Togo.
  • The 2022 sale of Bolloré Africa Logistics for €5.7 billion is alleged to have laundered profits from the group's fraudulent concessions.
  • Plaintiffs seek restitution under France's 2021 'ill-gotten gains' law, aiming to redirect seized assets to development projects in affected African nations.