Until countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast are willing to put their own officials on trial in orange jumpsuits like Armando Ndambi Guebuza, and to issue Interpol Red Notices against the relatives of even the former head of state, as Angola did against Ms dos Santos, nothing is going to change.
The Tuna Bond scandal was devastating to Mozambique, but not prosecuting bribe takers and not being willing to investigate even the presidential family for corruption is even more devastating. It is a sign that countries like Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Cameroon are not ready to change and will remain mired in under-development and poverty until they can enforce the rule of law against even their own officials.
In the longer term, bribery, embezzlement, and procurement fraud destroy countries. Transparency and accountability in oil and gas producing states are sorely needed. Let’s see what happens in court in Westminster next month.