After unsuccessful attempts to return to politics in France as in Spain, Manuel Valls could have found a new path to retraining: this Monday, November 18, 2024, the investigative media Mediapart reveals his new role as consultant for Bahrain.
In July 2024, the former Prime Minister went to Manama, as part of a paid mission to defend the interests of the kingdom, in particular around a complex legal case involving Qatar, according to information from the journalist by Mediapart Antton Rouget.
A paid mission of 30,000 euros
Between July 22 and 24, 2024, Manuel Valls was paid 30,000 euros for three days of work as a consultant for Bahrain, indicates the investigative media. This mission was part of a diplomatic and judicial operation aimed at influencing the handling of an old dispute between Bahrain and Qatar, concerning a decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) dating from 2001.
According to Mediapart, “the contract with Manuel Valls' consulting company (Binidali Conseil MV) was signed by Philippe Feitussi, former official lawyer of the royal family, who continues to lead a legal operation in France in favor of Bahrain.”
The funds which made it possible to finance this mission (and whose total amount amounts to 229,000 euros) were paid via an offshore company based in Hong Kong, Queen Capital International Limited, whose owners remain anonymous. The investigation reveals that this company is at the heart of a series of payments and activities linked to the defense of Bahrain's interests, but its exact role remains unclear, raising questions about the transparency of financing.
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A legal dispute with Qatar
The main purpose of Manuel Valls' mission was to explain to the Bahraini authorities recent developments in France, where a preliminary investigation was opened by the National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF) in connection with an old ICJ decision. This investigation follows accusations of alleged corruption targeting certain judges who participated in the 2001 ruling, which allocated territorial waters around the Hawar Islands to Qatar, to the detriment of Bahrain.
Although this case dates back more than twenty years, it took a new turn when Bahrain, from 2020, sought to challenge this decision by evoking possible corruption of the ICJ magistrates. A French intelligence firm, under the direction of a former soldier, would have been mandated to investigate, and several personalities from the kingdom have mobilized to relaunch this file in France. This investigation revealed suspicions of influence, particularly with regard to judges like Mohammed Bedjaoui, a former president of the ICJ, raising questions about the regularity of the judgment rendered.
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Philippe Latombe: the political intermediary
The investigation was fueled by reports from MP Philippe Latombe (MoDem), who was asked by lawyer Philippe Feitussi to send an alert to the PNF in 2022. In total, two reports were sent to the PNF in 2022 and 2023, fueling the investigation in France.
Manuel Valls was not alone in this mission to Bahrain: the delegation included several consultants, including lawyers and a researcher in geopolitics, but also Céline Clément-Pétremann, former head of communications for the PNF. According to information from Mediapart, the latter was hired to organize media coverage of the issue, in order to give it increasing visibility in the media. The former Prime Minister did not respond to requests from Mediapart.
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