The news followed the Luanda Leaks scandal, which emerged in January, during which Dos Santos was accused of exploiting her country and her position as the daughter of the former president of Angola, Jose Eduardo Santos. She was charged with fraud shortly after.
Resigning from the Unitel board on Tuesday, her statement attributed the decision to a “climate of permanent conflict” with the board.
She wrote: “After 20 years dedicated to the creation, development and success of Unitel, I chose to leave the position of member of the company’s board of directors.”
She added that is “counterproductive and irresponsible to allow a climate of permanent conflict and systematic politicisation of the administrators”.
She further highlighted that the conflict occurred at a time when “the Angolan economy and the telecommunications market are going through adverse economic conditions”.
She did not confirm what would happen to her 25% stake in Angola’s dominant telco, which was frozen in December 2019 ahead of the Luanda Leaks and as part of investigations into her business portfolio and personal wealth.
Through a series of press releases published on her website, Dos Santos has denied any wrongdoing in the financial scandal and has argued that the now infamous “Bruce Lee” passport used to freeze her assets, is a forgery.
In one of these documents, dated 12 May 2020, it is stated: “Ms dos Santos denies all the allegations made against her. She does not know the people involved in the scam, she never intended to sell her stake in Unitel, nor did she consider investing in Japan.”
Oi sold its 25% stake in Unitel as part of its bankruptcy restructuring process in January. Angola’s national oil company Sonangol paid US$1 billion to buy out the Brazilian telco and become a majority shareholder.
