A giant leak of documents from the internal database of Panama-based global law firm Mossack Fonseca has revealed how top politicians and wealthy businessmen from all over the world have evaded paying taxes using tax havens and engaged in massive money laundering for over 40 years.
The ‘Panama Papers’ have revealed offshore holding of over 140 politicians, public officials, and athletes around the world. Among them are several political and business leaders from Africa who have been adversely mentioned in the leaked documents.
Here is a list of the top 10 African leaders with shadowy companies in Panama.
He became president of Sudan on May 6, 1986. On June 30, 1989, he was toppled by a military coup led by, Omar al-Bashir. Al Merghani’s presidency consisted of a five-member council. On November 16 1988, he signed an agreement with the late John Garang of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement that stopped the introduction of sharia law in the Christian-dominated South Sudan. His family traces its lineage to Prophet Mohammed. He died on November 2, 2008 in Alexandria, Egypt.
Ian Kirby – Botswana
He was appointed President of the Court of Appeal of Botswana, on October 1st, 2010. Kirby is also former Attorney General of the Southern Africa nation. In 2014, he reversed a decision that had banned members of the gay and lesbian community from lobbying for equality and freedom of association.
Kalpana Rawal – Kenya
On June 3rd, 2013, she was sworn in as the Deputy Chief of Justice of Kenya. She is also a judge of the Supreme Court, the highest constitutional court in Kenya. She was the first woman lawyer to set up a private legal practice company in the East African nation. On June 2012, Rawal led the judicial inquiry that was setup to investigate a Kenya Police Helicopter crash that killed former Internal Security minister, George Saitoti and his deputy, Orwa Ojode.
James Ibori – Nigeria
He is a former Governor of Delta State in Nigeria, from May 1999 to May 2007. In 2010, he was arrested in Dubai after successfully escaping arrest in his country, for various counts of fraud of about US$77 million. In April 2012, he was jailed for 13 years after being found guilty of the fraud crimes, by Southwark Crown Court in Britain.
Atan Shansonga – Zambia
He was Zambia’s ambassador to the United States from September 2000. In July 2002, he was arrested by Zambian authorities on accusation of conspiring with former President, Frederick Chiluba to steal money from a government’s account in London, Britain. He had received more than $1 million from the account. In March 2004, he fled the nation as he faced charges of stealing more than US$ 45 million with Chiluba.
Jose Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos – Angola
He is an Angolan politician. He is the current Minister of Petroleum in President Jose Eduardo dos Santos government, since his appointment on October 1, 2008. In December 2009, he was elected president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC.
Abdeslam Bouchouareb – Algeria
He is the current Minister of Industry and Mines in Algeria, since his appointment in November 2012. In 2015, Bouchouareb suffered diplomatic embarrassment in a French airport after he was searched despite being in possession of a diplomatic passport.
Janet Kabila – DR Congo
She is the twin sister to Joseph Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Jaynet is a member of parliament in the country. In 2015, she was mentioned by AfroAmerica Network, alongside other members of the Kabila family, to have been involved in shipping of the family’s assets, such as money, jewelry, minerals and expensive furniture to Havana, Cuba.
Emmanuel Ndahiro – Rwanda
He is a Lieutenant Colonel and former spokesman of the Rwandan army. Ndahiro was also the national security advisor to President Paul Kagame. He is the longest serving spy chief in the tiny Central African nation. Ndahiro was accused by the British government of ordering the assassination of Rwandan-British citizens living in United Kingdom and Rwandan-Americans in United States who were critical of the Kagame regime in 2011.
Clive Khulubuse – South Africa
He is a business tycoon in South Africa and President Jacob Zuma’s nephew. Khulubuse also funds the ruling African National Congress Party. In September 2010, he acquired two oilfields in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tullow Oil, a British oil exploration company owned licences to the two fields that President Joseph Kabila awarded to Khulubuse.