Activist and former coordinator of the Monitoring and Budget Forum Adriano Nuvunga on Wednesday called the extradition of former Finance Minister Manuel Chang to the United States of America (USA) a "victory for justice in the face of impunity"..

For Adriano Nuvunga, "the most important thing is the political significance of the victory of justice over impunity".

Nuvunga, who is the coordinator of the Monitoring and Budget Forum (FMO), when this entity, which brings together various civil society organizations, filed several appeals in the South African courts to stop the extradition of Manuel Chang to Mozambique, defending the transfer of the former ruler to US jurisdiction.

Manuel Chang was arrested on December 29, 2018 at O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, en route to Dubai, on the basis of an international arrest warrant issued by the US on December 27, for his alleged involvement in the so-called hidden debts case secretly contracted in Maputo.

During this period, the former Mozambican ruler, regarded as the "key" figure in the hidden debts scandal, faced two competing requests from the United States and Mozambique for his extradition from South Africa without trial.

"Manuel Chang used to be powerful and untouchable, but today he is going to America," emphasized the social activist and director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), a Mozambican non-governmental organization (NGO).

The activist called on the US justice system to ensure that the trial of the former finance minister would lead to the "masterminds" of the undeclared debts case and the details of how the money raised in the scheme was dissipated.

Mozambique's former finance minister was handed over to US police officers in Johannesburg on Wednesday and extradited by private jet to the US, a South African government source said.

"The Ministry of Justice can confirm that Mr. Manuel Chang has been handed over to law enforcement agencies in the United States of America, where he is expected to be tried for a variety of fraud-related matters, among others," Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for the South African Minister of Justice, told Lusa.

The US authorities allege that the former ruler conspired with bankers from Credit Suisse and international promoters to put the country into debt for maritime projects, such as the purchase of a fleet against maritime piracy, which never materialized.