Mozambican debt revelations.
President Filipe Nyusi’s grip on the ruling FRELIMO has been strengthened after his and his party’s convincing (albeit disputed) election victory last month. Nevertheless, the poll triumph has quickly been eclipsed by recent US court revelations surrounding a long-standing hidden debts scandal, which has implicated leading FRELIMO figures. Nyusi’s embattled government hopes that economic developments will soon dominate the headlines as it ramps up major new liquefied natural gas (LNG) investments and attempts to convince the IMF to initiate a new funding programme.
The government-RENAMO peace agreement will come under increasing pressure after evidence of FRELIMO-associated election fraud.
Maputo's political and fiscal woes mean oil and gas companies will have free reign to implement their preferred investment plans.
Civil society pressure for greater campaign financing transparency will prove fruitless amid FRELIMO resistance over the short term.
