Uebert Angel: Al Jazeera Exposes UK Terrorist Funding Links

• President Emmerson Mnangagwa's advisor, Uebert Angel, was implicated in an Al Jazeera investigation concerning a staged rally at COP26.
• Approximately US$13,000 was paid for the November 2021 rally, which aimed to falsely show British support for Zimbabwe.
• The investigation alleged Angel paid proscribed UK far-right groups, including the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), and also engaged with individuals connected to groups such as Turning Point UK and Patriots of Britain (POB), for their involvement.
• Funds paid to these groups were reportedly intended for purchasing arms in Northern Ireland for use in Scotland.
• A legal expert warned that evidence of terrorist funding would lead to a criminal investigation.

Any substantiated evidence of financing terrorist operations would inevitably trigger a criminal investigation.

In November 2021, during the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, President Emmerson Mnangagwa's advisor, Uebert Angel, became central to an Al Jazeera investigation titled 'Contract Killers and the Far Right'. This exposé uncovered details surrounding a meticulously orchestrated rally, for which approximately US$13,000 was reportedly disbursed. The primary objective of this event was to cultivate an impression of widespread British public endorsement for a strengthened UK-Zimbabwe relationship, aligning with Zimbabwe's broader efforts to lobby for the lifting of sanctions.

The investigation revealed that the rally was populated by individuals described as "hired Britons," who were explicitly coached on their reactions and statements to create a specific narrative. Angel himself was present at this staged gathering. Jack Ross, a former Conservative Party election candidate in the UK, was identified as having been engaged by the Zimbabwean government to facilitate this operation. Ross openly discussed his role, stating he was tasked with organizing a crowd for a project called "British Friends of Zimbabwe" to greet President Mnangagwa upon his arrival. He further indicated that substantial payments were being made to his associates, who were community leaders, to arrange for approximately 100 people to attend.

Following the Al Jazeera revelations, Jack Ross was subsequently suspended from his political activities. The rally itself featured a hall filled with these 'actors' whose performances were choreographed to project an image of popularity for President Mnangagwa and to suggest British eagerness for trade with Zimbabwe. Despite some participants needing reminders of their roles, Angel's entrances and exits were met with pre-arranged cheers, a standing ovation, whistles, and the waving of both Zimbabwean and British flags, all designed to create a façade of genuine public support.

The Al Jazeera investigation delved deeper, revealing that Uebert Angel was observed interacting with far-right activists who maintain connections to various violent and proscribed terrorist organizations within the United Kingdom. Specifically, the report linked these activists to groups such as the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), which is a proscribed terrorist organization, and also to Turning Point UK and Patriots of Britain (POB). The investigation explicitly states that Angel made payments to these groups, including the proscribed UVF, in connection with the staged rally.

The implications of these findings are profound, particularly concerning the legal ramifications of funding proscribed organizations. A legal expert quoted in the investigation underscored the gravity of such actions, stating that any substantiated evidence of financing terrorist operations would inevitably trigger a criminal investigation. The expert emphasized the serious nature of transgressing the boundary between legitimate political discourse and engagement or involvement in paramilitary activities.

This situation poses considerable risks for any individuals or entities involved in lobbying or public relations efforts for foreign governments, especially when payments could be interpreted as supporting proscribed groups. The suspension of Jack Ross from the Conservative Party following the AIU's expose highlights the immediate political fallout for those implicated. President Mnangagwa's broader agenda at COP26, which included a public relations charm offensive aimed at rebranding Zimbabwe and attracting financial opportunities, is significantly undermined by these revelations, which instead cast a shadow over his administration's methods and associations.

This is not the first instance where Uebert Angel has been at the center of an Al Jazeera investigation. He previously played a pivotal role in the "Gold Mafia" investigation, another earth-shattering exposé by the network. That earlier investigation detailed Angel's central involvement in the illicit smuggling of Zimbabwe's gold to destinations such as Dubai and other international locations. His repeated appearance in high-profile Al Jazeera investigations concerning illicit activities underscores a concerning pattern of engagement in controversial and potentially illegal operations linked to the Zimbabwean government.

Lawyers and compliance officers must recognize the severe criminal investigation risks associated with engaging in lobbying or PR activities for foreign governments, especially when such activities involve payments that could be construed as funding proscribed terrorist organizations. This necessitates enhanced due diligence on all third-party engagements and a clear understanding of international anti-terrorism financing laws to avoid complicity or exposure.

Source: Original reporting via Al Jazeera's 'Contract Killers and the Far Right' investigation.