MTN Group CEO Rob Shuter
MTN Group shares fell slightly on Monday after reports emerged that it was facing further claims in a US court that it paid protection money to terrorist groups in Afghanistan.
Media reports began emerging on Saturday that the telecommunications group is facing new allegations of aiding the Taliban and al-Queda in the war-torn Middle Eastern country, where MTN operates a mobile network.
The suit was filed in a Washington, DC court on 27 December 2019 on behalf of American service members and civilians
The new allegations build on a lawsuit filed against MTN last December, in which it’s alleged the group paid protection money to the Taliban in Afghanistan, endangering the lives of US servicemen and women.
The amended complaint alleges that MTN violated the US Anti-Terrorism Act by paying protection money of more than US$100-million to al-Qaeda and the Taliban so its cellular towers would not be destroyed.
MTN Group CEO Rob Shuter said at the weekend of the expanded court challenge: “We are reviewing the new material in consultation with our legal advisers but remain of the view that we conduct our business in a responsible and compliant manner in all our territories.”
