Britain freezes Angola’s Isabel dos Santos’ assets, imposes travel ban

The UK has imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on Angolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos under its global anti-corruption sanctions framework, the government announced on Thursday, according to Reuters.

Dos Santos, Africa’s first female billionaire, whose father, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, governed Angola for 38 years until 2017, has been under scrutiny for corruption allegations in Angola and internationally for an extended period.

However, Dos Santos refutes the accusations, asserting that she is the victim of a prolonged political vendetta, resulting in the freezing or confiscation of her assets in Angola and Portugal.

The UK government stated that Isabel dos Santos misappropriated over £50 million ($63.19 million) for personal gain during her tenure as head of Angola’s state oil company, Sonangol. Additionally, she allegedly diverted more than £300 million while managing the telecoms firm Unitel.

In September, Dos Santos lost her appeal to lift an order freezing up to £580 million ($778 million) of her assets in a lawsuit filed by Unitel at London’s High Court.

Interpol confirmed in 2022 that it had issued a red notice for dos Santos, who claims to reside in Dubai.

The British government also announced sanctions on seven other individuals as part of its global anti-corruption campaign.