🛢🇫🇷🇧🇯 TotalEnergies hires former Benin PM to assess East Africa land purchases
France's TotalEnergies has hired former prime minister of Benin Lionel Zinsou to assess land purchases in Uganda and Tanzania as part of the Tilenga oil and East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) projects.
TotalEnergies said that as the land acquisition process draws to a close, Zinsou will evaluate the procedures used, the conditions for consultation, the compensation and relocation of people affected, and grievance handling.
Zinsou's consulting firm will also assess actions taken by TotalEnergies EP Uganda and EACOP to improve living conditions for those affected. It will submit a report by April 2024.
TotalEnergies said the Tilenga and EACOP projects include a land acquisition programme covering 6,400 hectares (15,815 acres), carried out on behalf of the Ugandan and Tanzanian governments.
#France #Benin
@africaintel
France's TotalEnergies has hired former prime minister of Benin Lionel Zinsou to assess land purchases in Uganda and Tanzania as part of the Tilenga oil and East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) projects.
TotalEnergies said that as the land acquisition process draws to a close, Zinsou will evaluate the procedures used, the conditions for consultation, the compensation and relocation of people affected, and grievance handling.
Zinsou's consulting firm will also assess actions taken by TotalEnergies EP Uganda and EACOP to improve living conditions for those affected. It will submit a report by April 2024.
TotalEnergies said the Tilenga and EACOP projects include a land acquisition programme covering 6,400 hectares (15,815 acres), carried out on behalf of the Ugandan and Tanzanian governments.
#France #Benin
@africaintel
🇬🇳🇫🇷 Guinea arrests French journalist Thomas Dietrich
Guinean military authorities have arrested French journalist Thomas Dietrich.
The journalist was arrested on Sunday in the capital, Conakry, while investigating alleged corruption in the country's National Oil Company (Sonap).
BBC sources say the journalist was interested in how certain officials of Guinea's transitional government had acquired their wealth and had been in the country for several days to investigate Sonap.
It is not the first time Mr Dietrich is arrested in Guinea.
In March 2020, he was arrested and deported after he filmed a police crackdown on an opposition demonstration in the capital Conakry.
#Guinea #France
@africaintel
Guinean military authorities have arrested French journalist Thomas Dietrich.
The journalist was arrested on Sunday in the capital, Conakry, while investigating alleged corruption in the country's National Oil Company (Sonap).
BBC sources say the journalist was interested in how certain officials of Guinea's transitional government had acquired their wealth and had been in the country for several days to investigate Sonap.
It is not the first time Mr Dietrich is arrested in Guinea.
In March 2020, he was arrested and deported after he filmed a police crackdown on an opposition demonstration in the capital Conakry.
#Guinea #France
@africaintel
🇹🇿🇫🇷 Tanzania's TPDC doubles gas field stake in deal with Maurel & Prom
State-run Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has paid $23.6 million to double its shareholding in the Mnazi Bay natural gas field under an agreement with French energy company Maurel & Prom.
The Mnazi Bay gas field, in the Mtwara region of the country's south, has an estimated 641 billion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas reserves and contributes nearly half of the gas used to generate electricity in the East African country.
Mussa Makame, TPDC's managing director, said the company had doubled its ownership in the asset to 40% after acquiring an additional 20% stake from Maurel & Prom.
Initially the field was jointly owned by Maurel & Prom, TPDC and Wentworth Resources. But after Maurel and Prom agreed to acquire Wentworth Resources' 31.9% stake, TPDC exercised its rights to buy a part of the shareholding that belonged to Wentworth.
#Tanzania #France
@africaintel
State-run Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has paid $23.6 million to double its shareholding in the Mnazi Bay natural gas field under an agreement with French energy company Maurel & Prom.
The Mnazi Bay gas field, in the Mtwara region of the country's south, has an estimated 641 billion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas reserves and contributes nearly half of the gas used to generate electricity in the East African country.
Mussa Makame, TPDC's managing director, said the company had doubled its ownership in the asset to 40% after acquiring an additional 20% stake from Maurel & Prom.
Initially the field was jointly owned by Maurel & Prom, TPDC and Wentworth Resources. But after Maurel and Prom agreed to acquire Wentworth Resources' 31.9% stake, TPDC exercised its rights to buy a part of the shareholding that belonged to Wentworth.
#Tanzania #France
@africaintel
🇪🇬🇫🇷🇵🇸 Egypt, France foreign ministers discussed Gaza
Egypt's top diplomat received his French counterpart Stephane Sejourne on Sunday in the New Administrative Capital.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry warned of a wider conflict in the region if a ceasefire was not reached in Gaza.
"The war in Gaza, the threats we are seeing towards the navigation in the Red Sea, the military operations that took place in Syria and Iraq as well as the military situation on the Israeli-Lebanese borders, all warns from the escalation of the situation and slipping towards a wider conflict," Shoukry said.
In his first official visit to the region, Sejourne said he rejects the forced displacement of Palestinians towards Egypt.
"You are worried about the forced displacement of people into your territory, we completely understand your concerns and the position of France is constant, we condemn and we refuse all actions that are a threat in this context."
#Egypt #France #Palestine
@africaintel
Egypt's top diplomat received his French counterpart Stephane Sejourne on Sunday in the New Administrative Capital.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry warned of a wider conflict in the region if a ceasefire was not reached in Gaza.
"The war in Gaza, the threats we are seeing towards the navigation in the Red Sea, the military operations that took place in Syria and Iraq as well as the military situation on the Israeli-Lebanese borders, all warns from the escalation of the situation and slipping towards a wider conflict," Shoukry said.
In his first official visit to the region, Sejourne said he rejects the forced displacement of Palestinians towards Egypt.
"You are worried about the forced displacement of people into your territory, we completely understand your concerns and the position of France is constant, we condemn and we refuse all actions that are a threat in this context."
#Egypt #France #Palestine
@africaintel
🇫🇷🇸🇩 France to hold April aid conference for war-torn Sudan
As fighting between military rivals in Sudan rages on, France said on Wednesday that it will host a humanitarian conference in April to provide aid to the country.
French Foreign Minister, Stephane Sejourne, told parliamentarians that the Paris gathering would aim to help resolve the “dramatic humanitarian crisis” impacting both Sudan and neighbouring countries.
He did not provide any more details about the conference.
#France #Sudan
@africaintel
As fighting between military rivals in Sudan rages on, France said on Wednesday that it will host a humanitarian conference in April to provide aid to the country.
French Foreign Minister, Stephane Sejourne, told parliamentarians that the Paris gathering would aim to help resolve the “dramatic humanitarian crisis” impacting both Sudan and neighbouring countries.
He did not provide any more details about the conference.
#France #Sudan
@africaintel
🇫🇷🇷🇼🇨🇩 France calls on Rwanda to cease support for rebels in eastern DR Congo
France said on Tuesday it was "very concerned" about the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and called on Rwanda to cease its support for the M23 rebel group which has recently stepped up its offensive.
"France condemns the continuation of the M23 offensives with the support of Rwanda, and the presence of Rwandan forces on Congolese territory," France said.
"We call on Rwanda to cease all support for the M23 and to withdraw from Congolese territory," it said, reiterating its support for a regional mediation process to put an end to the conflict.
#France #Rwanda #DRC
@africaintel
France said on Tuesday it was "very concerned" about the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and called on Rwanda to cease its support for the M23 rebel group which has recently stepped up its offensive.
"France condemns the continuation of the M23 offensives with the support of Rwanda, and the presence of Rwandan forces on Congolese territory," France said.
"We call on Rwanda to cease all support for the M23 and to withdraw from Congolese territory," it said, reiterating its support for a regional mediation process to put an end to the conflict.
#France #Rwanda #DRC
@africaintel
🇫🇷🇹🇳 France expelled "radical" Tunisian Islamic leader
France has expelled a Tunisian Islamic religious leader for being "radical", France's Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.
"The radical Imam Mahjoub Mahjoubi has just been expelled from the national territory, less than 12 hours after his arrest. We will not let people get away with anything," Darmanin said.
In an earlier statement, Darmanin said he had given instructions to issue a ministerial deportation order against "this radical 'imam' with unacceptable remarks". "Firmness is the rule," he added.
In a post that went viral on social media and was widely reported in French media, the imam referred to "the three-coloured flag" as "satanic".
Mahjoubi told that his comments had been taken out of context and that he had not meant to disrespect the French flag. His lawyer told he will appeal the expulsion procedure.
#France #Tunisia
@africaintel
France has expelled a Tunisian Islamic religious leader for being "radical", France's Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.
"The radical Imam Mahjoub Mahjoubi has just been expelled from the national territory, less than 12 hours after his arrest. We will not let people get away with anything," Darmanin said.
In an earlier statement, Darmanin said he had given instructions to issue a ministerial deportation order against "this radical 'imam' with unacceptable remarks". "Firmness is the rule," he added.
In a post that went viral on social media and was widely reported in French media, the imam referred to "the three-coloured flag" as "satanic".
Mahjoubi told that his comments had been taken out of context and that he had not meant to disrespect the French flag. His lawyer told he will appeal the expulsion procedure.
#France #Tunisia
@africaintel
🇪🇹🇫🇷 Ethiopian police arrest French journalist, employer says
Ethiopian police have arrested a French journalist on suspicion of "conspiracy to create chaos", his employer said on Monday.
Antoine Galindo was arrested last Thursday while on assignment in the capital Addis Ababa, the Africa Intelligence publication said in a statement. It said a judge on Saturday prolonged Galindo's detention until March 1.
Africa Intelligence said Galindo "has been suspected of 'conspiracy to create chaos in Ethiopia' and was brought before a judge on 24 February." The publication said its lawyer attended the hearing and was told about the charges.
"Africa Intelligence condemns the unjustified arrest and calls for his immediate release," it said.
#Ethiopia #France
@africaintel
Ethiopian police have arrested a French journalist on suspicion of "conspiracy to create chaos", his employer said on Monday.
Antoine Galindo was arrested last Thursday while on assignment in the capital Addis Ababa, the Africa Intelligence publication said in a statement. It said a judge on Saturday prolonged Galindo's detention until March 1.
Africa Intelligence said Galindo "has been suspected of 'conspiracy to create chaos in Ethiopia' and was brought before a judge on 24 February." The publication said its lawyer attended the hearing and was told about the charges.
"Africa Intelligence condemns the unjustified arrest and calls for his immediate release," it said.
#Ethiopia #France
@africaintel
Africa Intel
🇪🇹🇫🇷 Ethiopian police arrest French journalist, employer says Ethiopian police have arrested a French journalist on suspicion of "conspiracy to create chaos", his employer said on Monday. Antoine Galindo was arrested last Thursday while on assignment in…
🇪🇹🇫🇷 Ethiopian police release French journalist after a week, employer says
French journalist Antoine Galindo was released by Ethiopian police on Thursday after a week, his employer said.
He was arrested last Thursday while on assignment in the country's capital Addis Ababa on charges of "conspiracy to create chaos".
Galindo has left for France and is due to arrive on Friday, the publisher of Africa Intelligence said.
#Ethiopia #France
@africaintel
French journalist Antoine Galindo was released by Ethiopian police on Thursday after a week, his employer said.
He was arrested last Thursday while on assignment in the country's capital Addis Ababa on charges of "conspiracy to create chaos".
Galindo has left for France and is due to arrive on Friday, the publisher of Africa Intelligence said.
#Ethiopia #France
@africaintel
🇷🇺🇫🇷🌍 Putin addresses French president's concerns over Russian presence in Africa
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that heightened Russian influence in Africa has caused an "emotional reaction" in French President Emmanuel Macron.
“I think there is some kind of resentment, but when we maintained direct contacts with him (Macron), we spoke quite openly on this topic,” Putin said.
Putin also maintained that Russia did not "go into Africa and force France out," and that Macron's main problem was to do with Wagner being a Russian organisation.
“It’s probably more convenient to be offended by someone without seeing your own problems. Perhaps such an acute, rather emotional reaction on the part of the French President is also connected with what is happening in some African states,” he added.
Putin said that he was not "inciting anyone" and was not setting anyone up against France.
#Russia #France #Africa
@africaintel
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that heightened Russian influence in Africa has caused an "emotional reaction" in French President Emmanuel Macron.
“I think there is some kind of resentment, but when we maintained direct contacts with him (Macron), we spoke quite openly on this topic,” Putin said.
Putin also maintained that Russia did not "go into Africa and force France out," and that Macron's main problem was to do with Wagner being a Russian organisation.
“It’s probably more convenient to be offended by someone without seeing your own problems. Perhaps such an acute, rather emotional reaction on the part of the French President is also connected with what is happening in some African states,” he added.
Putin said that he was not "inciting anyone" and was not setting anyone up against France.
#Russia #France #Africa
@africaintel