December 02, 2024
Issued from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
Opening Central Africa (OCA) celebrates the United Kingdom’s sanctioning of Isabel Dos Santos and Russian kleptocrats and their associates. These decisive actions reinforce global efforts to curb illicit financial activities, safeguard natural resources, and uphold the rule of law in Central Africa and beyond.
The sanctions on Russia’s shadow fleet—an arm of economic evasion tactics in the energy sector—cut into the revenue streams fueling international instability. Simultaneously, the targeting of Dos Santos and her associates sends a powerful message against kleptocracy, a long-standing challenge in Central Africa.
Voices from OCA Leadership and Coalition Members
Tutu Alicante, Founder of EG Justice and coalition partner, stated: “These new sanctions are a critical step in holding kleptocrats accountable for stealing public resources and denying citizens schools, hospitals, and other basic development infrastructure. This sanction is a victory for ordinary Angolan citizens and a call for global leaders to double down on combating corruption and impunity.”
Florindo Chivucute, Founder and Executive Director of Friends of Angola (FOA), remarked, “Isabel dos Santos is a symbol of systemic corruption that has drained Angola’s wealth and perpetuated poverty for millions. These sanctions send a clear signal that kleptocrats can no longer hide behind stolen wealth or international complicity.”
Paul-Joel Kamtchang, Executive Secretary of ADISI-Cameroun and OCA member, “These sanctions show, if more proof were needed, that transnational kleptocracy is firmly entrenched in Africa; and that the UK is ready to lead in the fight against this phenomenon, which wreaks havoc in African economies and undermines the rule of law and human rights. Other countries must follow suit and not stop at Russia, which seems to have become the main enemy of certain powers.”
Andrea Ngombet, Acting Executive President of OCA, emphasized, “The targeting of Russia’s shadow fleet and Dos Santos demonstrates the power of collective action in addressing global corruption and financial manipulation. We must now ensure that this momentum builds toward sustainable reforms in resource governance across Central Africa.”
A Call for Unified Action
The sanctions underscore the necessity of international cooperation in dismantling systems of financial misconduct. OCA reiterates its commitment to working alongside global partners to enhance transparency, accountability, and resource governance across Central Africa.
Through continuous advocacy and collaborative efforts, OCA aims to support regional governments, civil society, and international bodies in creating environments where kleptocracy and resource exploitation are relics of the past.
