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Isabel dos Santos, Africa’s first female billionaire and the daughter of Angola’s former president, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, has launched a strong defense against corruption allegations in the Portuguese media.
Dos Santos, who became Africa’s first female billionaire in 2013, has been forced into the spotlight following a 45-page indictment by the Angolan legal system for suspected wrongdoing. She started a counteroffensive with a lengthy cover article in the Portuguese magazine Expresso.
The struggling entrepreneur denied the claims made in the so-called Luanda Leaks, which implicated her in corruption scandals. Dos Santos expressed doubts about the evidence given, questioning the legitimacy of the documents and alleging manipulation by Angolan secret agencies.
In an exclusive interview with Expresso, dos Santos addressed the controversy surrounding her corporate holdings, notably those in Malta, emphasizing transparency while refuting charges of secrecy. She cleared any misconceptions about her real estate interests in Lisbon while maintaining her innocence.
Dos Santos, once regarded as Africa’s richest woman with a net worth over $2 billion, had a huge blow in 2021 when her assets were seized in Angola, Portugal, and the Netherlands, resulting in her removal from Forbes’ list.
Legal fights erupted after a London judge froze a sizable amount of her assets in connection with loan defaults involving Unitel, Angola’s telecoms powerhouse.
The Angolan government’s seizure of a 50% stake in Unitel, jointly controlled by dos Santos and Leopoldino Fragoso do Nascimento, was a critical stage in the unfolding saga, reflecting broader anti-corruption measures in Angola. However, some have raised worries about the campaign’s apparent political bias, claiming that opposition leaders are being targeted selectively.
Dos Santos disputed embezzlement and fraud charges, citing political persecution by President João Lourenço’s administration.
Her legal lawyer, Dan Morrison, condemned the claims as unfounded and part of a coordinated effort to block dos Santos from participating in political activities in Angola.
Dos Santos is still involved in judicial actions in numerous jurisdictions as she seeks to clear her name amid rising scrutiny and political turmoil.
