An investigation by this paper has uncovered a trove of financial and corporate documents linking Liberia’s Ambassador-at-Large, Alioune Kebé, to an alleged US$483,000 mineral exploration scam, raising serious questions about his dealings with French investors and his role in Flobert Corporation.
Bank transfer documents from Crédit Industriel et Commercial in France reveal that French national Bertrand Franquet wired hundreds of thousands to Sports Ambassador Alouine Kebe at different time intervals: US$200,000 on October 18, 2020; US$200,000 on November 6, 2024; US$20,000 on December 14, 2024; and US$55,000 on January 4, 2025.
The payments were labeled “VIR ALIOUNE KEBE” and included account details linking directly to Kebé as the recipient.
Franquet, alongside other French associates, is listed as a primary shareholder in Flobert Corporation, a Liberian-registered mining venture with an initial investment capital of US$500,000, according to incorporation documents obtained by this paper.
The stated purpose of the corporation includes mineral exploration, extraction, and processing, refining, and international sales.
The Articles of Incorporation, notarized in Monrovia by Abraham W. Nifor, show that Franquet held a 64% majority share in Flobert Corporation.
Alioune Kebé does not appear as a shareholder but is alleged by Franquet and Partners as seen in the Articles of Incorporation that he used his brother, Papa Djibril Kebe, as a key facilitator and government-connected intermediary in securing mineral rights in Liberia and a 17% equity share of the Flobert deal.
“Kebe told us that he is highly connected in Liberia. He showed us pictures of he and the President eating on the same table and explained to us how he has greater control and influence in the Liberian government. That is what convinced us to have sent him our money. He is now using his influence to threaten and silence us,” the French investors told Verity Newspaper.
In private correspondences and notarized business filings, the company claimed that its operations involve valuable minerals such as gold, diamond, uranium, and natural gas, with Kebé reportedly acting as a strategic “ambassador” in negotiations with government and local stakeholders.
However, Franquet now alleges that Kebé misrepresented his influence and diverted funds meant for the company’s operations.
Supporting these claims are Western Union receipts showing additional payments of €2,000, €4,500, and €1,800 to Alioune Kebé and Alioune Badara between October 2024 and March 2025, further deepening suspicions of a broader pattern of financial misappropriation.
Despite the seriousness of these claims, Kebé has not responded to inquiries, and efforts to reach him through official channels, including Facebook and WhatsApp, have so far been unsuccessful.
As the investigation into the Flobert mineral scandal deepens, stakeholders are calling for greater transparency and due diligence in Liberia’s investment climate, particularly as it pertains to high-ranking government representatives involved in private ventures.
Whether the alleged scam leads to criminal proceedings or diplomatic fallout remains to be seen, but for now, Alioune Kebé, once hailed as a symbol of international sports diplomacy, faces serious allegations that could tarnish both his personal reputation and Liberia’s image abroad, considering his proximity to the Liberian presidency.
