French keep Geingob hanging

President Hage Geingob is yet to hear whether Radio France Internationale (RFI) will retract a story it posted on its website early last month in which he was effectively accused of being corrupt.The radio station alleged that a French probe was looking into whether Geingob had received bribes in connection with the sale of Canadian firm UraMin to French miner Areva.Following the publication of the article, Geingob swiftly moved to demand a retraction from RFI through his lawyer, Sisa Namandje. A person familiar with the matter told Namibian Sun this week that RFI's legal team was looking into the issue, while the radio station's English editor, Daniel Singleton, did not respond to enquiries. The RFI article linked Geingob to an unfolding investigation involving Sébastien de Montessus, Areva's former mining branch head, who has been charged with corruption in relation to the company's purchase of UraMin, which owned the Trekkopje mine in Namibia, among other African mining assets.Namandje was quoted last week saying the French radio station had not yet retracted its article.“We have not yet received a formal response, but RFI published another article on their website. We are still continuing with our consultations, I do not want to say much, just know the matter is still ongoing,” Namandje said.Geingob has over the years denied that he played any part in UraMin's sale to Areva, and has threatened legal action against RFI for its report alleging he was in any way linked to the unwfolding French investigation.The time period in which Geingob is said to have illicitly gained money for work pertaining to Areva dates back to 2007 when the miner, which today is in financial difficulties, bought UraMin for US$2.5 billion.The French inquiry, according to RFI, is looking into payments made to Namibia's United Africa Group in 2009 and 2010 and €8 000 paid in 2008 and 2009 to Geingob, who was trade minister at the time.Geingob is adamant worked as a UraMin consultant when he was a Swapo backbencher and never during his tenure as trade minister.During his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last month Geingob again vehemently denied any wrongdoing.“I was just involved as a consultant, whatever the French allegations are, they have nothing to do with me,” Geingob said during a question and answer session in the National Assembly.“I received US$300 000 from UraMin for facilitating their acquisition of a mining licence. I shared the money with two South Africans whom I worked with,” he said.OGONE TLHAGE

French keep Geingob hanging

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-17

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French keep Geingob hanging

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-17

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