By a press release made public yesterday evening by its national television, Chad informs national and international opinion that it is recalling its ambassador to Cameroon for consultation. A great first in relations between the two brotherly and neighboring countries. In diplomacy, it is the expression of disagreement from one state to another when the diplomatic relationship that binds them is affected by a tension considered to be extremely serious. And this is a great first between the two neighboring and brotherly countries. In the press release signed by Dr Gali Ngothe GattaSecretary General of the Presidency of the Republic of Chad, it is written that: “ on April 20, 2023, through the press, Chad learned of the signing of an agreement providing for the sale by a subsidiary of Savannah Energy PLC of 10% of the capital of Cameroon oil transportation company SA (Cotco), in contradiction with the conventions and statutes of COTCO, to the National Hydrocarbons Company (SNH) of Cameroon “. Cotco being a Cameroonian structure involved in the management of the pipeline Tchad-Cameroun. The dispute therefore concerns the management of the Chad-Cameroon pipeline.
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And precisely, this occurs the day after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Minister of Water and Energy (MINEE) and the British company Savannah energy RCM limited. The British company to resume construction work on the dam and hydroelectric power station in Beni a warak suspended since 2019, as well as ancillary works. This company which has been at the center of a crisis between the two countries for some time. Even if the memorandum of understanding signed yesterday between Gaston Eloundou Essomba et Andrew Knott the boss of Savannah Energy, in the presence of Christian Dennys McClure the High Commissioner of Great Britain in Cameroon, does not mention this subject, Chad seems to have information supporting this transfer. Maybe another convention. Anyway, in an editorial he wrote on the subject, Haman Mana, Director of publication of the daily Le Jour, indicates that what divides the two countries is the management of the assets of Exxon mobile on the market of the Chad-Cameroon pipeline, co-owned by the State of Chad, Cameroon and Exxon mobile. . According to the journalist, Exxon Mobile decides to leave the business. As is customary in business associations, the actors for the acquisition of these shares are primarily the partners. Only, a company called Savannah Energy presents itself, in order to acquire the shares now released. Obliging, the Chadian government is reluctant because this company represents nothing in the world chessboard of oil companies“, reports Haman Mana.
It should be remembered that this crisis occurs at a time when Chad decided last month to nationalize the oil production assets on its soil, and therefore swallowing the production assets of Savannah Chad inc (SCI), as well as a large portion of Savannah’s assets in Tchad oil transportation company (TOTCO), owner of the operation of the Chadian section of the Chad-Cameroon pipeline. SCI was formerly called Esso exploration and production Chad inc (EEPCI), which was owned by Exxon mobile.
Franck Biya chez Mahamat Into Deby
On the sidelines of official negotiations, the Chadian side notes suspicious interactions in the file and experiences parallel and underground interventions: “ It should be noted that from the start of the discussions about the coming of the company Savannah Energy to Chad, it appeared that behind this company gravitated many Cameroonian personalities and other African countries, who did not stop interfere with Chadian officials “says Gali Ngothe Gatta. And Haman Mana to specify that Franck Emmanuel Biyason of the President of the Republic of Cameroon, visited Ndjamena in September 2022: “ the reason for the visit is clear: he is pleading with the Chadian president, the cause of Savannah Energy“, reports Haman Mana. But ” after this visit, Chad puts the brakes on the file“. The country of Paul Biya does not give up: “From November 21 to 30, 2022, a delegation led by Mr. Elung Paul Che, Deputy Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon, is staying in Ndjamena and conducting discussions with the competent authorities of Chad. This delegation once again supports the transaction through Savannah Energy, which the Chadians consider unsuitable for the operation “says Haman Mana.
Petronas Assets
Besides this folder with the ” Savannah Nebula”, Chad evokes another file: that of the acquisition of the assets of Petronas. The country of Mahamat Deby Itno complains that more than a month later, only Cameroon has not yet responded to the letters requesting a no-objection opinion sent by the CEMAC to each minister of the member countries. Letters which condition the summoning of the competition commission about the approval file filed “in good and due form” with the services in charge of competition of the CEMAC.
Faced with this situation, and learning that Cameroon has already signed agreements with Savannah Energy, Chad has the impression that Cameroon is imposing on it a partner that it fears for its henchmen lurking in the shadows. And Mahamat Itno Deby does not intend to give in to this attitude of Cameroon. Hence the reaction of the transitional president of Chad. ” Chad finds itself once again under the obligation to defend its interests and its respectability, and denounces the repeated actions of Cameroon and its representatives which are undermining, in these cases and in CEMAC, relations between the two countries.“, threatens the secretary general of the Chadian presidency. Yaoundé’s reaction is expected.
