[5] In 1993, Durbar started working in Africa, developing businesses in infrastructure and real estate in Zaire until the fall of Mobutu Sese Seko in 1997.
[5] Throughout his business dealings in Africa, he has been close to several of the heads of states on the continent, including Mobutu, Laurent-Désiré Kabila, Omar Bongo, François Bozizé, and Alpha Condé.
[16] The mines were later proved unusable because of their low uranium concentration and the expensive logistics involved, which Areva's CEO Anne Lauvergeon was aware of at the time of the purchase of Uramin.
[5][17][18][13] In October 2008 the US ambassador to Bangui reported France's desire "to limit the influence of Saiffee Durbar, including by using the legal proceedings against him".
[5] To protect Durbar, President Bozizé appointed him Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, offering him diplomatic immunity and Central African citizenship.
[20] In 2014, Vincent Crouzet published a book Radioactive about the Uramin scandal with Saif Durbar as one of the main protagonists and a key witness.