Africa: Fight for Justice Over Bolloré’s Ports Empire

Edited By: Fatimatou babdin

A coalition of African civil society groups has launched a landmark legal battle in Paris, seeking accountability for what they describe as decades of exploitation of Africa’s trade arteries. The alliance, known as Restitution for Africa, unites eleven NGOs from Togo, Guinea, Ghana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Their complaint accuses French billionaire Vincent Bolloré, his son Cyrille, and the Bolloré Group of securing control over vital African ports through corruption, political manipulation and favoritism.

The lawsuit argues that the €5.7 billion sale of Bolloré Africa Logistics to MSC in 2022 amounted to laundering profits extracted from African nations—profits that activists insist should rightfully be returned. French prosecutors are now weighing whether to take the case to trial. At stake is not only the reputation of one of France’s most powerful business empires, but also the possibility of financial restitution to African states under a 2021 French law targeting international corruption.

For African activists, the case is emblematic of a broader struggle: breaking the grip of foreign corporations on critical infrastructure and challenging the impunity that often shields multinational giants. If successful, the lawsuit could set a historic precedent, opening the door for African nations to reclaim resources siphoned away under the shadow of neo-colonial influence.