A jet from Congo-Brazzaville seized in Bordeaux

The President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou-Nguesso on his descent from a plane in Algiers on March 27, 2017. STRINGER / AFP

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At the origin of this seizure, operated on Monday June 8 and revealed by Le Monde: the company Commissimpex of the Anglo-Lebanese businessman Mohsen Hojeij, a former close friend of President Sassou, who claims the regulation of the Congolese State a claim of 1.2 billion euros following an unpaid invoice dating from 1992. The lawyer for Congo contests the legality of this seizure.

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The jet, a Falcon 7X, stamped "Republic of the Congo" seemed to have left radars for some time. Was the tracking system deactivated? In any case, it did not leave any traces on online flight tracking sites, until it reappeared last Friday.

Departing from northwestern Congo, it was to undergo a revision in Bordeaux. But that was without counting on the vigilance of the Commissimpex company which as soon as it arrived on the tarmac on Saturday had it immobilized before obtaining its seizure on Monday. The lawyer in France of this company, Me Jacques Alexandre Genet, acknowledges carrying out a real “  hunt  ” for the goods of the Congolese State to obtain the reimbursement of his claim of 1.2 billion euros.

A debt that the Congo has always disputed but now recognized by a final judgment the Court of Cassation in France, after a very long legal battle. Commissimpex was therefore authorized to seize any asset of the Congolese State, with the exception of those for diplomatic use. "  It was precisely the case,  " said Me Kevin Grossman, a lawyer from the Congolese state. He assures that the plane was assigned "  to the diplomatic representation of the Congo  ", even if he did not carry any official last weekend, and promises to demonstrate it before the court to try to cancel this seizure. A new showdown to come therefore.

According to Me Jacques Alexandre Genet, lawyer for Commissimpex, the equivalent of 50 million euros have already been recovered through various seizures of bank debts or tax settlements, a figure that the lawyer for Congo contests. We are far from the 1.2 billion euros claimed, which represent nearly 15% of the Congo's gross domestic product.

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  • Congo Brazzaville