Former Mozambique finance minister, Manuel Chang, has lost his final court appeal, paving the way for his extradition to the United States.
Chang’s extradition is linked to a massive $2 billion corruption scandal involving loans to Mozambican state-owned companies. U.S. prosecutors allege that Chang played a key role in defrauding American and international investors through a scheme that involved bribes, kickbacks, and illicit payments.
The funds, intended for maritime projects, were instead embezzled, causing a financial crisis in Mozambique. The International Monetary Fund withdrew its support for the country when the hidden debts were exposed in 2016. Chang, who served as finance minister from 2005 to 2015, is accused of receiving approximately $17 million in bribes.
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Chang has been held in a South African jail since December 2018 when he was arrested at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport while attempting to board a flight to Dubai.
Despite numerous legal attempts to avoid extradition, Chang’s options have run out following a ruling by South Africa’s Constitutional Court denying his appeal. He and the Mozambican government argued for his extradition to Mozambique instead.
A Mozambican civil society group, the Forum de Monitoria do Orcamento (FMO), supported Chang’s extradition to the U.S., expressing concerns about the fairness of the justice system in his home country.
In December, several others implicated in the scandal, including Ndambi Guebuza, the son of former Mozambican President Armando Guebuza, were convicted and sentenced.
The timing of Chang’s extradition to the U.S. remains uncertain, as the South African Department of Justice and his legal representatives have not provided immediate responses.
In 2021, Credit Suisse, the Swiss bank involved in the scandal, agreed to pay a settlement of at least $475 million to British and American authorities over allegations of bribery and kickbacks.
