Africa’s reputed richest woman is a formal suspect in an investigation into mismanagement and the siphoning off of funds during her time with Angola’s state-run oil company, the country’s attorney general announced Wednesday.
Wednesday’s announcement is the latest sign that Angola’s government under President Joao Lourenco is determined to pursue accountability after the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists accused dos Santos of using “unscrupulous deals” to build her fortune, estimated at $2 billion.
Many shocked and angry Angolans want dos Santos to face justice in a country reeling from the cronyism and iron-fisted rule of her father.
But others say the focus on the highly prominent dos Santos family, means other elites who benefited under her father can go untouched.
Political activist Jereminas Dito Dali said it was “strange” the so-called Luanda Leaks did not probe other high-profile figures suspected of graft.
He singled out ex-vice president Manuel Vincente, who escaped a corruption trial in Portugal after Lourenco pushed to transfer his case to Angola.
Vincente is now a deputy of the MPLA, which has ruled the country since independence in 1975.
“I am not one of those who believes that there is selective persecution,” said Angolan journalist Carlos Rosado, who took part in the ICIJ investigation.
“We had to start somewhere,” he explained. “Now the judicial authorities must extend the scope of investigations to other sectors.”
The leaks should be an “opportunity” for the government to fight impunity across the board, said Rosado.
“You cannot stop here… in the Dos Santos family,” he told AFP. “Corruption in Angola is a widespread thing.”
Dos Santos has said the legal action against her is a “witch hunt” launched by officials who replaced her father.
The opposition has also voiced skepticism about President Lourenco’s declared intentions for going after graft and the focus on dos Santos.
The ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) is to hold internal leadership elections next year – a popularity test for Lourenco ahead of presidential polls in 2022.
Dos Santos told Portuguese media last week that she would consider running for the top job.
