Monday, February 13, 2006

Congo leader's GBP 169,000 hotel bill

Yesterday's Sunday Times article by Tony Allen-Mills says the leader of one of Africa's poorest countries paid more than GBP 100,000 in cash towards a GBP 169,000 hotel bill run up by his entourage during last year's UN summit in New York, according to court documents obtained by The Sunday Times:
"Aides to President Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of Congo startled staff at the Palace hotel on Madison Avenue by pulling out wads of $100 notes to settle a bill for 26 rooms.

Sassou-Nguesso, who is chairman of the African Union, representing all the continent's governments, is negotiating with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to cancel many of his country's debts on the grounds that it cannot afford to repay them. Yet the president spent a week last September in the Palace hotel, one of Manhattan's most prestigious addresses."
Full story.

Denis Sassou-Nguesso

Photo (Wikepedia): Jacques Chirac (R) and Denis Sassou-Nguesso president (1979-92, 1997-) of Congo (Brazzaville)

Jan 25, 2006 New AU chairman would welcome UN support for AU troops in Darfur: International force in Darfur must be African-led.

Jan 23, 2006 President of Congo (Brazzaville) to succeed Obasanjo as AU chair

No comments: