A new survey assessing the decisions of the Cape Verdean government in the ongoing case of businessman Alex Saab shows that citizens in that country are unhappy with actions the government has taken so far.

According to the survey report, the government acted unfairly by taking a side when it should have remained neutral in the impasse between the US and Venezuela over the arrest and detention of Mr. Saab.

Mr. Saab, a known businessman closely associated to the current Venezuelan government was arrested by police in Cape Verde last year on his way to Iran aboard a private jet.

The US government which ordered his arrest says it wants him to be extradited to face charges of corruption.

Venezuela, which says it has given Mr. Saab a diplomatic status is of the view that he cannot be extradited to the US because he is their diplomat and was on an assignment for them when he was arrested.

Although the Cape Verdean government has approved of the US' request, Mr. Saab is still in the country because his legal team initiated processes at the ECOWAS court to stop the extradition.

The court ruled that the Mr. Saab be immediately released from prison and placed under house arrest on health grounds but the government of Cape Verde has not complied with the ruling.

This strong position taken by the Cape Verdean government, is totally different from what its citizens expected.

61.1% of the 576 people sampled for the survey from Praia, Cape Verde's capital, expressed their dissatisfaction with the actions taken by the government.

Most of them indicated that they preferred that the Cape Verdean government was impartial rather than accept the US' request for extradition of Alex Saab.



Africa-wide concern

Besides the three countries involved in the case, other African countries have also waded into the matter with a group of lawyers including Nigeria's famed human rights lawyer and former president of the West African Bar Association, Femi Falana, earlier this month jointly writing to the president of Cape Verde, Jorge Carlos Fonseca to call for Alex Saab's immediate release.

They said his detention is illegal and a breach of international law.

The lawyers gave indications that they may pursue the matter at the African Union level if Mr. Saab is not released.

“We would respectfully urge you to give due consideration to the consequences of Cabo Verde’s ongoing defiance of the African Union and ECOWAS. Alex Saab’s detention is illegal and he should be released immediately to resume his diplomatic functions.

“For the sake of justice, we urge you once more; free Alex Saab,” portions of their letter reads.