Central Africa

“We should be wary of those who preach enforcement-only initiatives to tackle illegal wildlife trade. A holistic approach starts with the recognition that although the ultimate beneficiaries may be organised crime networks, the poaching economy plays a significant role in the livelihoods of rural people too,” Reid said.

Tom Keatinge on the Luanda Leaks for BBC Business Daily

Tom Keatinge, the director of the Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies at the Royal United Services Institute, said there were questions over the involvement of Almerk and the “circular movement of funds”. “It seems a bit odd to work as an adviser or consultant on a deal which you are going to benefit from. It’s not illegal but it just doesn’t look good.” He added: “This is not a zero-risk proposition, but who is bearing the risk is the question. We can say that the bank is not bearing the risk, because it has the guarantee from the state. Dokolo is bearing the risk, but he has an influential connection with Sodiam ... The question is what would have happened if it started to go wrong – how would Sodiam have reacted?”