An international publication reports that, last week, the ETG Group informed Filipe Nyusi's government, through its lawyers, that it will resort to international arbitration to resolve the case of the seizure of goods, including large quantities of bóer beans, valued at 60 million dollars.

At the request of the Royal Group, the Mozambican judicial authorities in Nampula province have seized significant quantities of soybeans from the ETG Group's warehouses in Nacala. The measure is aimed at securing the payment of a bond of 3,871,050,000 meticais from a worker of the group arrested in December 2023. Read more....

ETG believes that by authorizing the seizure, Mozambique violated a national investment law "which establishes property and export rights, as well as a bilateral investment treaty with Mauritius. Both have provisions to appoint arbitrators in the event of disputes."

The ETG Group says it has tried to resolve the situation amicably, through all the legal channels available in Mozambique, "but we are faced with obstructions from the authorities and the judiciary at every step".

According to the publication we quote, the ETG Group, based in Mauritius and with long and extensive operations on the African continent, claimed to still be open to talks, despite the "huge direct and indirect losses"

In addition to having its goods seized, the ETG Group claims that it informed the Attorney General, Beatriz Buchili, of the looting of goods from its warehouses "under the watchful eye and with the support of the Mozambican authorities".

The Royal Group is said to have rejected claims that ETG's warehouses were dry. "So far, the company has collected 30 million dollars in goods, acting as guardian of the cargo until the courts decide on the outcome of the financial losses suffered" by the company.

The Royal Group is challenging the deputy attorney general's order and "the seizure remains in place until the final decision is made," it said. ETG said it "strongly disputes the value of the assets [Royal Group] holds" and the legality of the seizure.