WASHINGTON-The man suspected of raiding the offices of the U.S.-owned mobile-phone carrier in Cote d’Ivoire and forcing the network to shut down was taken into custody by authorities over the weekend, according to an embassy spokesman.
“He was arrested on charges of having raided Cora de Comstar,” said Mamadou Bamba, a spokesman for the Embassy of Cote d’Ivoire.
Cora de Comstar, a GSM wireless carrier controlled by Western Wireless Corp. and U.S.-based Modern Africa Fund, closed down Oct. 12 after repeated strong-arm tactics-some at gun point-allegedly by a man who claimed ownership in the cell-phone business. Western Wireless and U.S. officials suspect Alexandre Galley, who they say is an international felon, was assisted by some in the Cote d’Ivoire government.
Bamba denies the charge, albeit with a caveat.
“No one in the government close to the president helped Galley,” said Bamba. “This government is taking drastic measures to find a solution to the problem.”
Western Wireless and Modern Africa Fund, which have invested more than $40 million in Cora de Comstar, is filing an expropriation claim with the Cote d’Ivoire government to request compensation for their losses.
Rep. Jennifer Dunn (R-Wash.) has asked the Bush administration to press Cote d’Ivoire officials to make amends for the forced closure of Core de Comstar.
