South Africa’s Constitutional Court Denies Former Mozambican Finance Minister, Manuel Chang Attempt to Halt US Extradition Amid $2 Billion Corruption Scandal

In a recent development in South Africa, the nation’s highest court, the Constitutional Court, has thwarted an attempt by Manuel Chang, the former finance minister of Mozambique, to prevent his extradition to the United States. Chang stands accused of egregious acts of corruption and the misappropriation of state resources, an issue stemming from a massive financial scandal involving a sovereign debt of $2 billion USD. This information has been disclosed by News24, a well-known news outlet.

Back in November 2021, a significant ruling was made in the Gauteng High Court by Judge Margaret Victor, which overturned an earlier decision by Justice Minister Ronald Lamola. Lamola had opted to extradite Chang back to his homeland, Mozambique. However, this was contested, prompting Chang to seek an appeal. As it stands, the appeal has been rejected by the Constitutional Court, blocking any further attempt to halt his extradition.

The backdrop to this legal saga dates back to December 2018 when Chang was arrested. A warrant had been issued for his arrest, and he was apprehended while in transit at the OR Tambo International Airport. The following month, January 2019, witnessed the United States making a formal request to South Africa to extradite Chang so he could face trial on American soil.

The allegations against Manuel Chang are rooted in a complex and extensive financial scandal. State-owned companies in Mozambique had unlawfully borrowed over $2 billion USD from international banks between 2013 and 2014. This money was ostensibly for shipping fleets, which included tuna-fishing vessels and surveillance equipment. However, the details of these loans were not made public, with the Mozambican government deliberately concealing this information from both the public and parliament.

The scandal came to light in 2016 when news about the missing funds began to circulate. This revelation precipitated a sovereign debt default and a severe collapse in the country’s currency, causing further distress to an already beleaguered economy.

Eyewitness News, another news source, has reported that an independent audit discovered that a staggering $500 million USD of the borrowed funds had been misappropriated and currently remains unaccounted for. This additional detail only adds to the gravity of the allegations against Manuel Chang, contributing to a case that has serious implications both domestically and internationally.