Africa-Press. Norway’s public prosecutor has charged two Norwegian citizens and an Oslo-based oil company with paying 25 million USD in bribes to the president of the Republic of Congo-Brazzaville, Denis Sassou Nguesso, and members of his family, in exchange for offshore exploration rights in 2016. Prosecutor Marianne Djupesland said the case centers on an oil license application submitted by the Norwegian firm “Himla,” and that the defendants agreed to grant the president and his family a quarter of the revenues from the petroleum concession — which she described as “the core bribe” in the case.
The case is regarded as one of the most prominent corruption scandals in recent years linking a Western company to an African head of state. Sassou Nguesso (82) has ruled Congo-Brazzaville for more than four decades, first from 1979 to 1992, then returning to power in 1997 after a civil war, and remaining president to this day.
No official comment has yet been issued by the Congo-Brazzaville government, which has routinely denied corruption allegations, insisting that the oil sector operates in line with international standards.
Oil sector: backbone of the economy
Congo-Brazzaville produces around 268,000 barrels of oil per day according to 2025 figures, with petroleum accounting for two-thirds of GDP and most export revenues, making it central to the national economy. However, international organizations continue to criticize a lack of transparency in the management of oil resources, while members of the president’s family are under investigation in France for alleged money laundering and the purchase of luxury real estate with suspicious funds.
Norway—one of the world’s top oil producers—enforces strict anti-corruption laws on its citizens and companies operating abroad. Its sovereign wealth fund, built on oil revenues, is widely seen as a global model for ethical investing. Norwegian authorities did not disclose the names of the accused nor the details of the company’s activities in Congo, but confirmed that the charges followed an extensive investigation into the oil license award process. If convicted, the defendants face prison sentences and significant fines under Norwegian law, which criminalizes offering or accepting bribes in international business.
