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© Illustrated by Ezinne Osueke | Photos : Olympia de Maismont/AFP ; Issouf Sanogo/AFP ; Victor de Schwanberg/VSC/Science Photo Library/AFP ; Joël Saget/AFP ; Sicpa

In Focus | Africa
From Rabat to Kinshasa, a deep dive into Swiss group SICPA's traceability empire

Published on 15.06.2026 at 04:40 GMT Reading time 9 min

Tobacco, alcohol, fuel, medicines, cosmetics… To combat counterfeiting and tax evasion affecting these everyday products, many African states are turning to a Swiss traceability company. Africa Intelligence has investigated the operations on the continent of this family-run firm, which is as ubiquitous as it is secretive.

Behind every cigarette smoked on a café terrace in Rabat, or every bottle of beer sipped out of sight in the licensed bars of Casablanca lies the shadow of a Swiss company that is particularly well connected in Morocco: SICPA.

The family-run firm founded in 1927 has in less than two decades established itself as the sole partner of the country's ADII

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In Focus | Africa
From Rabat to Kinshasa, a deep dive into Swiss group SICPA's traceability empire

This article may be accessed by subscribers

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Create your free account

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Related topics to this article

Read also

Morocco
Jewish community leader Serge Berdugo to step down as reform approaches

Ivory Coast
Local companies say government ignored their demands in tobacco traceability tender

Ivory Coast
Tobacco traceability tender call raises hackles of local manufacturers

Morocco
Abdeslam Ababou provides princely back-up for Xlinks' giant solar power project

Morocco
Eric Besson leads SICPA's charge into medical traceability business

About Africa Intelligence

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Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Indigo Publications' websites

In Focus | Africa From Rabat to Kinshasa, a deep dive into Swiss group SICPA's traceability empire

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

create a free account

Related topics to this article

Read also

Morocco Jewish community leader Serge Berdugo to step down as reform approaches

Ivory Coast Local companies say government ignored their demands in tobacco traceability tender

Ivory Coast Tobacco traceability tender call raises hackles of local manufacturers

Morocco Abdeslam Ababou provides princely back-up for Xlinks' giant solar power project

Morocco Eric Besson leads SICPA's charge into medical traceability business

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

In Focus | Africa
From Rabat to Kinshasa, a deep dive into Swiss group SICPA's traceability empire

Morocco
Jewish community leader Serge Berdugo to step down as reform approaches

Ivory Coast
Local companies say government ignored their demands in tobacco traceability tender

Ivory Coast
Tobacco traceability tender call raises hackles of local manufacturers

Morocco
Abdeslam Ababou provides princely back-up for Xlinks' giant solar power project

Morocco
Eric Besson leads SICPA's charge into medical traceability business