Brazzaville facing hefty arbitration over withdrawn iron ore permits
President Denis Sassou Nguesso's decision to withdraw several iron ore mining permits in late 2020 has thrust arbitration proceedings on the heavily-indebted country involving at least $40bn. All of the plaintiffs - Australia's Sundance Resources and Equatorial Resources, Saint Kitts and Nevis-based Avima Iron Ore and Britain's Midus Holdings - are being assisted by law firm Clifford Chance. The case underscores Congo's relations with China, the source of capital for the buyer of three of the withdrawn iron ore permits: Sangha Mining Development.