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Several non-governmental organizations in Mozambique on Saturday called Credit Suisse to cancel the debt contracted by its government with the Swiss bank in the context of a mbadive "hidden debt" scandal.
In a letter to Credit Suisse General Manager Tidjane Thiam, seen by AFP, 21 civil society groups said the scandal of allegedly illegal loans amounting to $ 2 billion was "a as a direct result of fraudulent illegal collusion between Credit Suisse, entrepreneurs and Mozambican government officials ".
The letter was co-signed by Graca Machel, a humanitarian activist and widow of Nelson Mandela.
"After reviewing all available information in our possession, we are asking Credit Suisse to publicly declare that the Mozambican people should not pay a single cent of these debts and that the recovery of any money should come from the companies. and people who, on the contrary, have benefited from this chaos, "says the letter.
The call was launched just days after the dismissal of Deputy Finance Minister Isaltina Lucas by Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi, implicated in the growing scandal.
As Director of the National Treasury, she signed guarantees in 2013 and 2014 for loans to three state-owned security companies.
An independent audit revealed that $ 500 million of the loans, deliberately concealed in the country's parliament and international donors, had been diverted and could not be found.
When the hidden debt was revealed, Mozambique – which relies on donor badistance and is one of the poorest countries in the world – has been plunged into the worst financial crisis in its history.
The United States alleges that at least $ 200 million was spent on bribes and kickbacks, including $ 12 million for former Finance Minister Manuel Chang, who also approved the debt guarantees.
Chang was arrested in South Africa in December on a US extradition request for his alleged involvement in the loans.
The United States claimed that Mr. Chang received the $ 12 million required to sign loan agreements for alleged tuna fleet financing and a maritime surveillance project. .
Chang faces extradition requests from US and Mozambican authorities on suspicion of financial misconduct. Court hearings are scheduled to resume in South Africa on February 26.
Seven suspects, including Mozambicans and former Credit Suisse bankers, are charged with fraud, conspiracy to attack financial security, and conspiracy to launder money.
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