Politics

Mozambique President Nyusi can’t be sued in Britain over ‘tuna bond’ case, court rules

Published

10 months ago

February 29, 2024

The London Court of Appeal decided on Thursday that Mozambique’s President, Filipe Nyusi, cannot be sued in Britain for allegedly accepting illegal payments as part of the country’s legal proceedings regarding the ten-year “tuna bond” scandal.

Privinvest, an Emirati-Lebanese shipbuilder, sought to include Nyusi in a $3.1 billion lawsuit filed by Mozambique, alleging that it paid bribes to bankers at Credit Suisse and officials.

The main focus of the accusations against Nyusi was the $11 million in payments that they said Privinvest made in 2014 to help Nyusi and his Frelimo party, which is currently in power, win elections. Privinvest and Safa said he ought to bear the financial burden of any reparations they might have to pay Mozambique in the event of a conviction.

The High Court decided shortly before the trial started last year that Nyusi was entitled to immunity as a head of state and that Privinvest’s lawsuit had not been properly served on him. Mozambique settled with UBS, the new owner of Credit Suisse, the night before the trial in October.

Nyusi was the target of a lawsuit from Privinvest, which claimed Nyusi had accepted $11 million in illegal campaign contributions. Privinvest maintains that the payments were legitimate.

According to the company, Nyusi should pay a portion of any damages it might be required to pay if the court rules that the payments were illegal. However, the Court of Appeal decided on Thursday that Nyusi was not appropriately given the case.

Nyusi “has immunity from the jurisdiction of the English courts while he is the head of state of Mozambique,” according to a written decision by Judge Julian Flaux.

In a statement praising the decision, Simon Bushell, senior partner at Seladore Legal, who represents Nyusi, said: “Today’s victory puts a stop to Privinvest’s most recent attempt to make the President contribute to any liability he may face in the wider dispute.”

Related Topics:Featured Mozambique President Nyusi Tuna Bond

Click to comment

Politics

Mozambique’s top court affirms governing party’s victory in recent election

Published

2 days ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The highest court in Mozambique affirmed Monday that the incumbent Frelimo party won the October election, sparking widespread demonstrations from opposition parties who claim the vote was manipulated.

Fears of fresh bloodshed have been raised in the nation already shaken by weeks of fatal protests after Mozambique’s top electoral court mostly confirmed the results of the country’s contentious October elections, reinforcing the Frelimo party’s decades-long hold on power.

The final decision on the election process rests with the Constitutional Council. Mozambique, a nation of over 35 million people in Southern Africa that Frelimo has ruled since 1975, is expected to see more protests in response to its judgement.

Mozambique operates a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic in a multi-party system. The president of Mozambique serves as both the head of state and the head of government.

The government exercises executive power. The administration and the Assembly of the Republic have the authority to enact laws.

Politics

Alliance of Sahel States opposes ECOWAS disengagement schedule

Published

2 days ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) withdrawal timeline has been rejected by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which is made up of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

The AES claims that the ECOWAS is attempting to destabilise their newly formed organisation.

During a meeting last week in Abuja, Nigeria, the regional organisation announced a six-month withdrawal period to give the three nations time to change their minds after their official departure date at the end of January 2025.

However, this decision is “nothing more than yet another attempt by the French and its auxiliaries to continue planning and carrying out destabilising actions against the AES,” according to the heads of state of the AES.

“This unilateral decision is not binding on the ESA countries,” the statement continues. Before the conference, they stated that their choice to leave the organisation was “irreversible.”

According to the president of the Ecowas Commission, this will be a “transition period” that ends on “July 29, 2025” to “keep the doors of Ecowas open.”

The three nations accused the bloc of neglecting to assist them in resolving their domestic security challenges and of imposing “inhumane and irresponsible” sanctions related to the coup.

The three nations that were involved in the coup have mostly rejected ECOWAS’ attempts to undo their withdrawal. They are creating their alliance and have begun thinking about how to issue travel passports independently of ECOWAS.

It is anticipated that they will finish giving their one-year notice of departure in January.

Visa-free travel to other ECOWAS members is a significant perk of membership, and it is unclear how this would alter after the three nations exit the group.