New developments in the dispute between the General Delegation for Rapid Entrepreneurship for Women and Youth (DER/FJ) and the company SERTEM GROUPE! In an aggressive press release published on April 7, 2026, SERTEM's communications unit dismantles point by point the version put forward by the DER in the case of the termination of the contract estimated at 17 billion FCFA, relating to the construction of the Mohamed Bin Zayed Center.

At the heart of the controversy is the accusation that SERTEM abandoned the construction site for nearly 20 months. An allegation the company categorically denies, providing supporting documents. According to SERTEM, there was never a unilateral work stoppage, but rather a suspension governed by contractual provisions, specifically Article 48.3 of the General Administrative Clauses (CCAG), resulting from breaches by the project owner.

The company mentions a precise chronology: a formal notice sent as early as March 2023 for non-payment and lack of exemptions, a continuation of work noted in February 2024, then a suspension in April 2024, before a demobilization that took place in January 2026 after official notification of termination.

But the most sensitive point in the case concerns tax and customs exemptions. SERTEM claims it never received the necessary permits to execute the contract, despite an authorization mentioned by the DER (Delegation for Rapid Entrepreneurship) for 8.3 billion FCFA. This situation has led to a blockage of suppliers, refusals to issue tax-free invoices, and equipment being held up in customs, effectively paralyzing the progress of the construction project.

In its press release, SERTEM raised a key issue: the delay in the approval of the architectural plans. According to the company, these plans were only approved in February 2023, nearly a year after the project's official start. This is a major anomaly for a construction project of this scale. SERTEM maintains that it was physically impossible to meet the deadlines under these circumstances.

On the financial front, the company also points to unpaid amounts exceeding 2.6 billion FCFA, of which more than 2.19 billion were already due before September 2023. It recalls that the contractual payment deadlines are set at 45 days, beyond which late payment interest and a right to suspend work apply.

SERTEM also disputes the DER's argument regarding the 3.4 billion FCFA advance payment. It clarifies that this is a contractual advance equivalent to 20% of the contract, fully guaranteed and intended solely for mobilizing the construction site, not to cover the work already completed. The press release also denounces the DER's silence in the face of numerous letters sent, including formal notices and suspension notifications, which have gone unanswered.

Beyond the technical and financial aspects, SERTEM is challenging the overall management of the project, which it describes as chaotic. It asserts that the tender was launched without the essential conditions being met, notably the absence of effective exemptions and validated plans.

The company also refutes the overall amount of 25.56 billion FCFA including tax put forward by the DER, maintaining that the actual contract amounts to 17.24 billion FCFA excluding tax, and describes the figures communicated as “fanciful”.

Finally, SERTEM questions the conditions of the contract termination and the rapid reassignment of the contract to another company, especially given that legal proceedings are underway. It considers this approach suspicious, particularly since, according to SERTEM, state oversight bodies recommended that the project be withdrawn from the DER (Delegation for Rapid Entrepreneurship).