Mozambique’s government plans to appeal a South African court’s decision to revoke the planned extradition of their former finance minister, according to a letter seen by Reuters news agency.
Manuel Chang is wanted in both Mozambique and the US over his alleged involvement in a $2bn (£1.5bn) debt scandal.
He signed off the massive loans to pay for, among other things, a state tuna fishery between 2013 and 2016.
But a proportion of the money has not been accounted for and the allegations made in the US indictment include accusations of kickbacks and fraud.
Mr Chang, who denies any wrongdoing, was arrested in South Africa in December.
South Africa’s former Justice Minister Michael Masutha said Mr Chang should be extradited to Mozambique. But a South African High Court ruled on Friday that a decision about the extradition should be set aside and reviewed by Mr Masutha’s successor, Ronald Lamola, Reuters reports.
In the letter seen by Reuters, Mozambique’s government lawyers said they had “instructions from our client to appeal the judgement”.