Le 30 mai dernier, le Collectif pour la défense du Ndiaël (37 villages du Nord du Sénégal regroupant 10 000 habitants) a adressé une lettre à African agriculture Inc (AAGR). Ses membres exigeaient la restitution de 25 hectares de leurs terres ainsi qu’une indemnisation pour les préjudices causés aux communautés locales par dix années d’exploitation de la surface en question par la société mise en cause. La correspondance est restée lettre morte, les dirigeants de l’entreprise l’ayant ignorée.
D’après Libération, qui donne l’information dans son édition de ce jeudi, AAGR est la propriété de Frank Timis. L’homme d’affaires roumano-australien est connu au Sénégal pour l’affaire de cession de puits de pétrole, dans des conditions nébuleuses, qui avait secoué le pays au milieu des années 2010.
Un trésor de guerre de plus de 25 milliards
Avec AAGR, qu’il a fondée le 7 mai 2021 dans le paradis fiscal de Delware, Frank Timis s’est redéployé dans l’agriculture. «L’objectif d’AAGR est de cultiver la luzerne comme aliment pour bétail destiné au marché international. Elle prévoit également de produire de la biomasse pour la production de biocarburants, de faire pousser des arbres pour vendre des crédits carbone et de se lancer dans la pisciculture», révèlent des documents obtenus par «Grain» et «The Oakland Institute», respectivement, une organisation internationale de soutien aux luttes paysannes et «un groupe de réflexion progressiste basé à Oakland, en Californie (Etats-Unis)».
Ces deux organisations ajoutent que AAGR a lancé en mars dernier une opération d’introduction en bourse (Nasdaq). Objectif : lever 40 millions de dollars (plus de 25 milliards de francs CFA) pour financer ses activités au Sénégal.
Selon Libération, les terres en question sont composées des 20 000 hectares attribués en 2012 à Senhuile (devenu Les Fermes de la Téranga) par l’ancien Président Abdoulaye Wade et de 5000 autres hectares acquis par AAGR à Fass Ngom, en juin 2018, et objet d’un bail de 15 ans.
Une concession de 50 ans et près de 11 milliards
Libération rapporte que si Frank Timis a pu mettre la main sur ces 25 000 hectares, c’est grâce à des montages financiers complexes, effectués dans des paradis fiscaux et impliquant plusieurs sociétés écrans.
Le journal informe que l’homme d’affaires a d’abord créé Agro-Industries corp. (AIC) le 15 janvier 2018 aux Îles Caïmans, un paradis fiscal réputé. A travers cette société, il a pris possession, le 28 février 2021, des droits fonciers des Fermes de la Téranga pour 7,9 millions de dollars (près de 5 milliards de francs CFA).
Le 7 mai 2021, il crée AAGR et prend 80% du capital et octroie 9% à Gora Seck, ancien président de Senhuile. Et un mois plus tard, il boucle la boucle avec la prise de contrôle par AAGR de AIC.
Cette opération a permis à Frank Timis d’hériter des droits d’exploitation des 20 000 hectares de Senhuile. «Grain» et «The Oakland Institute» affirment que la concession, évaluée par ses nouveaux propriétaires à 18 millions de dollars (environ 11 milliards de francs CFA), est valable jusqu’en 2062, soit une durée de 50 ans.
Autant dire que les populations du Ndiaël ne sont pas près de récupérer leurs terres.
seneweb
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