LONDON, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Glencore's ( GLCNF ) former

head of oil Alex Beard has been charged with bribery offences

relating to the Swiss commodity trader's operations in Africa,

Britain's Serious Fraud Office said on Thursday.

Beard, 56, is charged with two conspiracies to make corrupt

payments to government officials and officials of state-owned

oil companies in Nigeria between 2010 and 2014 and in Cameroon

between 2007 and 2014, the SFO said.

He is one of five ex-Glencore ( GLCNF ) employees charged with

conspiracy to make corrupt payments.