Niger’s parliament has reportedly voted to nationalise incumbent telecoms operator Sonitel, after attempts to privatise the company failed.
Hama Amadou, president of the West African country’s national assembly, said after the vote that Sonitel…
Niger’s parliament has reportedly voted to nationalise incumbent telecoms operator Sonitel, after attempts to privatise the company failed.
Hama Amadou, president of the West African country’s national assembly, said after the vote that Sonitel is now entirely state owned, Reuters reported.
Amadou added that the nationalisation will enable the government to invest in the company over the next five years.
Niger began looking for a buyer for Sonitel and its mobile unit Sahel Com in August 2011, after a deal with Libya’s LAP GreenN fell through. The Libyan group had offered to pay CFAfr31bn (US$68m) for a 51% stake in the company for 10 years, but Niger said it was unable to satisfy all terms of the transaction.
When the LAP GreenN deal fell apart in June 2011, Niger’s communications minister Salifou Labo Bouche was quoted as saying a new buyer would be sought and, in the meantime, Sonitel and Sahel Com would be nationalised.
Sonitel was previously controlled by Dataport, a consortium of China’s ZTE and the Libyan Arab African Investment Company (LAAICO), but Niger cancelled an agreement with the companies in February 2009, citing poor management and, again, an inability to meet all terms of the agreement.
Sonitel was not immediately available for comment.
