Orange ordered to close offices in Niger tax dispute

7 December 2018

Mergers, Acquisitions and Financial Results

French telecoms firm Orange Group says it has been ordered by the government of Niger to shut all its offices in the West African country because of a tax dispute. Reuters cites a statement from the company as saying that it has been ordered to pay XOF22 billion (USD37.9 million) in back taxes. ‘Orange Niger … regrets the brutality of such measures, especially given the exorbitant amounts claimed, which represent nearly 50% of Orange Niger’s turnover,’ the statement said, adding: ‘Orange Niger … intends to exercise all the avenues of recourse, in particular to safeguard the continuity of the company, seriously threatened by these unilateral and disproportionate decisions.’

Source: Telegeography