Cairo : The Algerian government may take over Orascom Telecom Holding's unit in Algeria if the Egyptian company attempts to sell it, National Radio reported, citing the country's finance minister.
The government is opposed to any deal to sell Djezzy, Orascom's mobile phone unit, to a foreign operator, Karim Djoudi told the radio station. "The law allows the government to take over the Algerian unit of Orascom telecom by up to 100 per cent," Djoudi said.
MTN Group, Africa's largest mobile-phone company, said on April 28 it was in negotiations to buy all or part of its Cairo-based competitor Orascom, which operates in North Korea, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, the Central African Republic, Burundi, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Algeria's government ordered the unit last year to pay $596 million (Dh2.18 billion) in back taxes, a decision that Orascom said it would appeal.
