The United States of America has banned Namibian former fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau and ex-justice minister Sacky Shanghala from entering the country because of allegations of corruption.
This was announced by US state department in a statement issued on Tuesday.
“We are announcing today the public designation of former Namibian government officials Bernhardt Esau and Sakeus Shanghala, due to their involvement in significant corruption,” the White House announced in a statement Tuesday. “In their official capacities as Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources (Esau) and Minister of Justice (Shanghala), they were involved in corrupt acts that undermined rule of law and the Namibian public’s faith in their government’s democratic institutions and public processes, including by using their political influence and official power for their personal benefit, “the statement read.
This designation is made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2021.
“This action renders Esau and Sanghala ineligible for entry into the United States,” The State Department said.
The State Department said the designations also bar their immediate family members from entry to the United States.
“The authority also requires the designation of a principal’s immediate family members. Accordingly, in addition to Esau and Shanghala, we are publicly designating the following members of Bernhardt Esau’s family, who are now also ineligible for entry into the United States: his wife, Swamma Esau, and his son, Philippus Esau, “The State Department said.
The two former ministers resigned from their posts in 2019 after being accused of receiving millions in bribes to grant Samherji, one of Iceland’s largest fishing conglomerates, preferential access to Namibia’s fishing grounds.
The scandal was brought to light during an investigation into 30,000 documents obtained by Wikileaks from a source within the company.
The State Department said the designations also bar their immediate family members from entry to the United States.
This designation reaffirms the U.S. commitment to supporting anticorruption reforms that are key to Namibia’s successful future. The United States continues to stand with all Namibians in support of democracy and the rule of law, and against those who would undermine these principles for personal gain.” The Department will continue to use authorities like this to promote accountability for corrupt actors in this region and globally.
“This designation reaffirms the U.S. commitment to supporting anticorruption reforms that are key to Namibia’s successful future,” the State Department said. “The United States continues to stand with all Namibians in support of democracy and the rule of law, and against those who would undermine these principles for personal gain.”
President Joe Biden earlier this month ordered a review on how better to fight corruption globally, calling the issue a national security interest of the United States as graft “rots democracy from the inside” and boosts authoritarians.
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