Tactics range from the exploitation of farmers and use of child labour to threats and intimidation, and a “continent-spanning spy network”. All to pursue BAT’s own commercial goals.

Examples from across the region feature on an illustrative map, and below are links to further reading which provide a comprehensive understanding of the company’s activities in Africa.

Sabotage, Deceit and Duplicity: British American Tobacco Uncovered

Significant new reports and briefings can be found on the BAT Uncovered micro-site of TCRG’s partner organisation STOP at exposetobacco.org

These cover new allegations of bribery across Africa, and dirty tricks in South Africa.

Briefing papers on BAT’s alleged capture of state agencies, potential complicity in smuggling in South Africa and alleged connection to an attempted bribery conspiracy in Zimbabwe will be published on this site in due course.

Buying Influence and Advantage in Africa

Analysis of whistleblower documents by the Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG) at the University of Bath found a “large number of questionable payments” made by BAT over a five-year period.  This huge international corporation used these payments to influence policy and undermine competing tobacco companies, both international and local.

• Read the report summary: Buying Influence and Advantage in Africa: An Analysis of British American Tobacco’s Questionable Payments

BAT made payments impacting ten countries in East and Central Africa. They were made to politicians and civil servants, staff of competitor companies, journalists, farmers and others involved in positions of potential influence.  The use of these payments appeared to be systematized and supported by senior staff, including in BAT’s London office.

The full report details the payments and describes the serious consequences of this unethical business activity. It also suggests that governments globally should more closely examine BAT’s behaviour.

• Read the full report: “Unlawful Bribes?”: A documentary analysis showing British American Tobacco’s use of payments to secure policy and competitive advantage in Africa¹

The leaked source documents are publicly available in the UCSF Industry Documents Library Africa Collection (University of California, San Francisco).

Dirty Tricks in South Africa

In the report on British American Tobacco in South Africa, TCRG researchers explain how BAT has fought to maintain its dominance of this key market over decades, in the face of increased competition and growing illicit trade. The report describes how the company has used “any means necessary” to hold its position, including paying another company to run a “massive secret surveillance and informant network in Southern Africa on behalf of BAT”.

The report details BAT’s use of third party service providers, allegedly overseen and run by senior operatives at BAT’s London headquarters.  It also explains how BAT is “yet to face meaningful consequences for its actions either in the region or at home in the U.K.” after the U.K. Serious Fraud Office (SFO) dropped its five-year investigation in January 2021.

BAT has repeatedly denied accusations of corporate espionage, corruption and law-breaking,² but new analysis of leaked documents raises serious questions about BAT’s activities in South Africa, particularly in relation to tobacco smuggling and tax evasion.

The research by the TCRG was carried out in collaboration with BBC’s Panorama, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism and the Organized Crime and Reporting Project.

• Read the report: British American Tobacco in South Africa: Any Means Necessary

See also:

The BBC’s Panorama documentary programme, broadcast on 13 September 2021, which “unveils new revelations about the corrupt practices deployed by one of Britain’s biggest companies.”³

• Watch ‘Dirty Secrets of the Cigarette Business’ (BBC iPlayer, UK only, registration required)
• Watch on BBC World Saturday 18 September 2021 (Africa link, switch to other regions at the bottom of the page, note times are GMT)

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

• Read: Smoke Screen: BAT’s agents brokered bribe proposal⁴
• Listen: Smoke Screen: Love, bribes, lies and spies in the tobacco industry

Victoria Hollingsworth tells the true story of corrupt practices behind the scenes at British American Tobacco. Hear from the very people caught up in this world as the Bureau sinks deep into the dirty underbelly of the tobacco industry in South Africa.

BAT in Africa: A History of Double Standards

TobaccoTactics details the history of BAT’s double standards, exposing a difference between its stated goals and principles, and its activities in low and middle-income African countries.  It includes links to earlier allegations against BAT, featured in a 2015 Panorama programme and media coverage at the time.

• See British American Tobacco in Africa: A History Double Standards

This page brings the story up to date…

• See British American Tobacco in Africa: Continuing Allegations of Misbehaviour

References

The post The BAT Files: How British American Tobacco Bought Influence in Africa appeared first on TobaccoTactics.

Kehinde Johnson was formerly Corporate & Regulatory Affairs Director at British American Tobacco in Nigeria from 2000 to 2005⁵⁶ and former founder of Rosebank Consulting, which was an environmental and social development consultancy in Nigeria. Since December 2016, he has worked for Monsanto and K&B Agromix in Nigeria.⁶

References

The post Kehinde Johnson appeared first on TobaccoTactics.

Long-Standing Career with BAT

Spencer-Obatoyinbo joined BAT in 1996 and has held several senior positions, including:⁷⁹¹⁰

• Area Director of BAT Swiss Cluster, Western Europe Region (2014 – 2017);
• Head of Human Resources for BAT East Europe, Africa and Middle East Region (2013 – 2014);
• Area Director for BAT West Africa Area (2010 – 2012);
• General Manager for BAT Egypt (2007 – 2010);
• Marketing Director for BAT Nigeria (2004 – 2007);
• Head of Trade Marketing & Distribution, Nigeria (2002 – 2004);

In 2010, she was appointed board member of the BAT Nigeria Foundation, a limited company set up by BAT in 2002 under a commitment to the Nigerian government, to “contribute to Nigeria’s socio-economic development”.¹¹
Since taking up her post in Kenya, Spencer-Obatoyinbo has been quoted in the media arguing against changes in national tax regulations and increases in excise duty, and more recently the introduction of a tobacco control bill in Nairobi.

Against Tobacco Policy and Regulation in Kenya

BAT Kenya has been urging the Government to review its taxation policy on tobacco with Spencer-Obatoyinbo stating that it ‘’holds back the government led war against counterfeit and smuggled tobacco,’’¹² an argument commonly used to undermine tobacco control policies which is not supported by the evidence.¹³.¹⁴
At BAT Kenya’s AGM in 2018, she said the government should not implement the proposed 5.2% increase in excise duty on cigarettes under the Financial Bill 2018, and instead consider ‘’putting more resources in creating an environment favourable to business.’’¹⁵

Challenged Nairobi Tobacco Control Bill 2018

BAT claimed that the Nairobi City County Tobacco Bill 2018, which proposes the creation of a new department responsible for tobacco control and health, including issuing licences to tobacco retailers, represented “over-regulation”.¹⁶ Spencer-Obatoyinbo argued that this bill would disrupt retail business and increase illicit trade,¹⁶ arguments restated by business organisations in Kenya.¹⁷

• For more information on BAT’s tactics in Kenya, see Kenya- BAT’s Tactics to Undermine the Tobacco Control Regulations
• For more background on the tobacco industry in Kenya, see Kenya- Country Profile

TobaccoTactics Resources

• British American Tobacco
• Kenya- BAT’s Tactics to Undermine the Tobacco Control Regulations
• Kenya- Country Profile

Relevant Link

British American Tobacco Kenya Website

References

The post Beverley Spencer-Obatoyinbo appeared first on TobaccoTactics.

Based in Nigeria, Rosebank Consulting offered a consultancy service to African governments as well as the private sector on how to manage the social and environmental risks arising from their activities.¹⁸
When active, its website listed a team of seven employees.¹⁹ Among them were two former British American Tobacco employees in Africa; Shabanji Opukah, who was listed as Partner responsible for Corporate Social Responsibility, Biodiversity & Climate Change, and Kehinde Johnson, who was listed as the Managing Partner on Rosebank Consulting’s website.

References

The post Rosebank Consulting appeared first on TobaccoTactics.

Background

Du Plessis has held senior positions with several companies, including:

• Non-Executive Director BT Group (from 1 June 2018) and Chairman BT Group (from 1 November 2017) ²²
• Chairman of mining corporation Rio Tinto (April 2009 – March 2018)
• Board member (since 2014) and Chairman (2015 –2016) of SABMiller ²³
• Senior Independent Director of Marks & Spencer (2012 – 2015)
• Since October 2005, Plessis has served as Non-Executive Director of Lloyds TSB group plc

Career with Tobacco Industry

Du Plessis joined BAT’s Board as a Non-Executive Director in 1999 and became Chairman on 1 July 2004 as well as being the Chairman of the company’s Nominations Committee.
Previously, du Plessis was the Group Finance Director of tobacco company Rothmans International (1990-1996), which was acquired by BAT in 1999.
In 1981, du Plessis joined the Rembrandt Group, a South African tobacco and business conglomerate owned by Johann Rupert, which was later consolidated with Rothmans International.

Challenged About Breaching of Marketing Code

At BAT’s 2007 Annual General Meeting, Deborah Arnott, Director of British health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), challenged du Plessis to respond to allegations that BAT was using questionable marketing methods around the world which glamorise and romanticise smoking, and are particularly attractive to young people.²⁴ Arnott’s comments followed allegations from a young Nigerian who showed evidence that BAT was selling cigarettes in Nigeria in quantities of two rather than packs of ten and twenty, which makes cigarettes cheaper to buy for unaged smokers. Arnott asked du Plessis: “How can you do this, yet say you practice corporate social responsibility?”
Du Plessis claimed at the time that the accusations were too general, but subsequently BAT admitted in a letter to ASH that that there “appear to be a couple of examples that may be in breach of our International Marketing Standards”.
Also see British American Tobacco in Africa: A History of Double Standards.

Criticised the UK Smoking Ban

Du Plessis has described British parliamentarians as “paternalistic” and “intolerant” because they voted in favour of a total smoking ban. ²⁵ Furthermore, he called the ban “draconian” and said that “this is such a political debate and people are not interested in the science. People just want to clobber the tobacco industry”.

TobaccoTactics Resources

• British American Tobacco
• British American Tobacco in Africa: A History of Double Standards.
• SABMiller
• Price and Tax

References

The post Jan du Plessis appeared first on TobaccoTactics.