Oslo, Norway — 2026-01-27 Two Norwegians and a Norwegian-based oil company have been charged for allegedly paying millions of dollars in bribes to the President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, and his family. Prosecutors in Norway announced the charges on Monday, stating that the oil company, Hemla Africa Holding, and its two executives are accused of paying approximately $25 million in bribes.
The money was allegedly offered to the president and his family in 2016 when the Norway-based oil group applied for an offshore oil drilling license in the Republic of Congo.
The investigation was launched after Monaco’s legal authorities sought assistance regarding a suspicious bank transaction. Norwegian police revealed that the majority of the $25 million was offered to Sassou Nguesso and his family in 2016. Additional bribes were paid through undue advantages and loans, according to the indictment.
Hemla Africa Holding is a subsidiary of Norwegian group PetroNor E&P, which is listed on the Oslo stock exchange. Sassou Nguesso’s family controls the Congolese company MGI International, which owned 25 per cent of the local company, Hemla E&P Congo, which was granted the oil drilling license. Officials commented on the matter.
68 million to the president through his close family members. PetroNor’s share price fell by more than 14 per cent on Monday before recovering some ground.
The company has denied the allegations, stating in a statement, “The company categorically contests the indictment of Hemla and welcomes the opportunity to have the case thoroughly examined in court.”.
The two Norwegian executives, identified in medireports as Hemla board members Gerhard Ludvigsen and Knut Sovold, were first arrested in 2021 over the affair. They were initially held in custody for two weeks before being released. Both have denied the allegations.
Their lawyer Halvard Helle told financial newspaper Dagens Naeringsliv that “cooperating with local partners for licence shares is a totally normal way of organizing oil operations around the world.”Sassou Nguesso has ruled the oil-rich Republic of Congo for more than four decades across two periods. Further details are expected as the case proceeds through the Norwegian legal system.
Source: [euronews. Com]( Euronews.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
