Monrovia, Sept. 7 -- In November 2018, French telecoms group Orange announced that the government of Niger ordered its offices shut over a tax dispute. The company, at the time, complained that the decision was brutal and disproportionate.
According to Orange, the government of Niger took the decision based on a "questionable" claim to 22 billion CFA francs ($38 million) in back taxes.
That incident triggered a drawn-out saga between the company and Niger that resulted in the Nigerien government issuing the company and ultimatum to pay their taxes or leave. As a result Orange sold 95 percent of its shares to a minority shareholder, Zamani Com S.A.S, who inherited the responsibility of paying the $US38 millon claim.
Zamani is wholly owned...