

An ICIJ Investigation
Luanda Leaks
How two decades of corrupt deals made Isabel dos Santos Africa’s wealthiest woman and left oil- and diamond-rich Angola one of the world’s poorest countries. Read more.

EXPLAINER
From Colonization to Kleptocracy: A history of Angola
By Antonio Cucho Gamboa
January 16, 2020

KEY FINDINGS
5 reasons why Luanda Leaks is bigger than Angola
By Ben Hallman
January 21, 2020

LUANDA LEAKS
How Africa’s richest woman exploited family ties, shell companies and inside deals to build an empire
By Sydney P. Freedberg
January 19, 2020

THE ENABLERS
Western advisers helped an autocrat’s daughter amass and shield a fortune
By Ben Hallman
January 19, 2020

DATA JOURNALISM
Explore: How to build a business empire
By Delphine Reuter
January 15, 2020
- Two decades of unscrupulous deals made Isabel dos Santos Africa’s wealthiest woman and left oil- and diamond-rich Angola one of the poorest countries on Earth.
- A web of more than 400 companies and subsidiaries in 41 countries are linked to Isabel dos Santos or her husband, Sindika Dokolo, including 94 in secrecy jurisdictions like Malta, Mauritius and Hong Kong.
- Hundreds of millions of dollars in loans and contracts were directed to dos Santos' companies.
- A cadre of Western business advisers moved money, set up companies, audited accounts, suggested ways to avoid taxes and turned a blind eye to red flags that experts say should have raised serious concern.
- Two firms, PwC and Boston Consulting Group, together earned more than $5.6 million between 2010 and 2017 for services provided to dos Santos and Dokolo companies.
IMPACT

Nov 25, 2024
UK sanctions Angola’s Isabel dos Santos and associates for ‘stealing country’s wealth for personal gain’
IMPACT

Jan 19, 2024
Isabel dos Santos charged with 12 crimes in Angola over her dealings as Sonangol chair
WHISTLEBLOWERS

Sep 11, 2023
Whistleblower Rui Pinto given four-year suspended sentence in Football Leaks trial amid ongoing legal woes
WHISTLEBLOWERS

Jul 13, 2023
Luanda Leaks whistleblower Rui Pinto faces fresh charges but may benefit from amnesty reforms timed to coincide with papal visit
Learn about the Luanda Leaks investigation data, major findings and more.
