The United Kingdom has sanctioned Isabel dos Santos, a billionaire businesswoman from Angola and the daughter of a former president, as part of a broader initiative to combat money laundering under the new Labour government’s agenda.
The sanctions also extend to Dmytro Firtash, an exiled Ukrainian oligarch, and Aivars Lembergs, one of Latvia’s wealthiest individuals. British authorities have described the three individuals as “notorious kleptocrats,” implementing asset freezes in the UK and imposing travel bans against them.
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated that these individuals have “selfishly deprived their fellow citizens of much-needed funding for education, healthcare, and infrastructure,” all for their own personal enrichment. The government claims dos Santos misused her influence at the Angolan state oil company Sonangol and the telecommunications firm Unitel to embezzle at least $440 million.
Isabel dos Santos, who is often referred to as Africa’s first female billionaire, has faced significant legal challenges since the rise of a new president in Angola in 2017. In recent years, she has encountered numerous corruption charges across various jurisdictions. Dos Santos has consistently denied the allegations, asserting that she is the target of a politically motivated vendetta.
In response to the sanctions, dos Santos labeled them as “incorrect and unjustified,” claiming she was not afforded a chance to defend herself and stated her intention to appeal the decision.
