Africa’s richest woman exposed in #LuandaLeaks

A massive Internet leak of over 715 000 business documents has exposed how the daughter of former Angolan president, Isabel Dos Santos, illicitly acquired her wealth. Dos Santos is considered Africa’s wealthiest woman and has been featured in global publications. However, her country Angola has a low human development index due to the high cost of living.

The documents, now referred to as Luanda leaks, were obtained from a whistleblower by the ‘Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa’ PPLAAF. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists co-ordinated a collaboration between more than 120 journalists from 36 media houses to study the documents. According to reports, the documents include confidential emails, contracts, spreadsheets, ledgers, audits, incorporation papers, organisational charts, lists of clients with overdue payments for jewels, board of directors meeting minutes and videos, bank loans, and other loan agreements

Angola’s Attorney General announced that Dos Santos and her husband were charged with a number of economic crimes. She is being sought by local authorities and faces prosecution.