Also known as: Samherji hf. · Icelandic fishing giant Samherji · Icelandic fishing company Samherji · Samherja
Samherji — Icelandic fishing company at center of Namibian Fishrot scandal, facing N$18.3 billion lawsuit and corruption allegations spanning 2012–2019.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Samherji did not stumble into the Fishrot scandal
“Samherji did not 'stumble' into the Fishrot scandal.”
‘Fishrot corruption is Namibian culture’The Namibian
Samherji exported a business model built on exploitation of resources
“It exported a business model built on the exploitation of resources – a model perfected in Iceland's individual transferable quota (ITQ) system, where a handful of families control our national waters and, by extension, our politicians.”
‘Fishrot corruption is Namibian culture’The Namibian
Samherji is involved in Fishrot scandal involving kickbacks and questionable mackerel quota transactions worth N$150-2.5 billion
“The Fishrot scandal spans Namibia, Angola, Iceland and Norway and involves kickbacks and questionable Namibian freezer horse mackerel quotas transactions of between N$150 million and N$2.5 billion, involving the Icelandic seafood company Samherji.”
Angola ex-fisheries minister’s trial not linked to FishrotThe Namibian
Icelandic fishing company Samherji is involved in Fishrot case with allegations of fishing quota bribes
“It involves allegations that fishing quotas were allocated in exchange for bribes to senior Namibian officials and involves Icelandic fishing company Samherji.”
Iceland finance minister faces backlash after blaming Namibia for Fishrot corruptionInformanté
Samherji distanced itself from a fabricated 2023 apology statement attributed to it
“At the time, the company distanced itself from the claims, describing the stunt as a coordinated attempt to mislead the public and damage its reputation.”
Icelandic artist’s latest stunt: Fake apology from Alda Seafood over FishrotInformanté
Samherji is an Icelandic fishing company allegedly given a competitive advantage in securing horse mackerel quotas
“Esau and his co-accused, which include former Minister of Justice Sacky Shanghala, James Hatuikulipi, Pius Mwatelulo, Ricardo Gustavo, Tamson Hatuikulipi, Mike Nghipunya, Otneel Shuudifonya, Phillipus Mwapopi, and Nigel van Wyk, are charged with corruptly receiving payments of at least N$300 million to give the Icelandic fishing company Samherji a competitive advantage in securing access to horse mackerel quotas in Namibia.”
Esau growing old, says lawyer as he cautions against “oppressive” pre-trial incarcerationNew Era
Samherji allegedly paid bribes to accused persons in exchange for fishing quotas
“Allegations are that they received bribes from Icelandic fishing company Samherji in exchange for fishing quotas.”
Fishrot stuck in starting blocksThe Namibian
Samherji calls a lawsuit filed against it baseless
“Icelandic fishing company Samherji says a lawsuit filed against it and related companies by a Scottish firm acting on behalf of Namibia's state-owned fishing company Fishcor is baseless.”
Samherji calls N$18.3 billion Fishcor lawsuit baselessNew Era
Samherji is alleged to have been given a competitive advantage in securing access to horse mackerel quotas in Namibia
“Shanghala, Hatuikulipi, Pius Mwatelulo, Bernardt Esau, Gustavo, Tamson Hatuikulipi, Mike Nghipunya, Shuudifonya, Phillipus Mwapopi and Nigel van Wyk are charged with corruptly receiving payments of at least N$300 million to give the Icelandic fishing company Samherji a competitive advantage in securing access to horse mackerel quotas in Namibia.”
Fishrot in cul-de-sac …trial stalls amid legal stalemateThe Namibian
Samherji ceased operations in Namibia between 2019 and 2020
“This follows calls by the former Namibian employees who lost their jobs when Icelandic fishing giant Samherji ceased operations in the country between 2019 and 2020 and are now seeking compensation for lost income and benefits.”
Fisheries hooks labour in Samherji payoutsIceland's finance minister attributed the Fishrot scandal to corruption in Namibia rather than Iceland, a comment an Icelandic journalist and former Transparency International Iceland director calls emotional escapism rooted in "Icelandic exceptionalism"—a delusional belief that Iceland is inherently uncorrupt and that corruption is merely a "foreign infection."
13 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Iceland's finance minister attributed the Fishrot scandal to corruption in Namibia rather than Iceland, a comment an Icelandic journalist and former Transparency International Iceland director calls emotional escapism rooted in "Icelandic exceptionalism"—a delusional belief that Iceland is inherently uncorrupt and that corruption is merely a "foreign infection."
13 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Former Angolan fisheries minister Vitória de Barros Neto has denied responsibility for alleged misappropriation of around 300 million kwanzas in public funds from fish commercialisation in the common marine zone between Namibia and Angola during her 2012–2019 tenure. The trial, which began in December 2019, is not connected to Namibia's Fishrot scandal, though both involve fisheries-sector corruption around the same period.
11 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Iceland's finance minister Daði Már Kristófersson has said corruption in the Fishrot case reflects Namibia and not Iceland, following media coverage of Icelandic fishing company Samherji's operations. Namibian MP Rodney Cloete rejected the statement, arguing it ignores the role of foreign companies involved in the scandal.
27 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Icelandic artist Oddur Eysteinn Friðriksson created a fabricated website and press release falsely claiming to be from Alda Seafood Holding, apologising for alleged corporate wrongdoing in Namibia linked to the Fishrot scandal. The spoof was designed as an artistic intervention to highlight issues of corporate accountability and freedom of expression, and misled at least two prominent Namibian daily newspapers.
27 April 2026 · Informanté →
Lawyer Florian Beukes argued in High Court that his client Bernard Esau, 69, has experienced oppressive pre-trial incarceration after seven years in custody since his arrest in November 2019, citing exhausted defence funds and violation of constitutional rights to a speedy trial. Esau and nine co-accused, including former Justice Minister Sacky Shanghala, face 42 counts including corruption and racketeering over allegedly receiving N$300 million in payments to favour the Icelandic fishing company Samherji.
24 April 2026 · Informanté →
The Fishrot case has been postponed to 24 April 2026 as former justice minister Sakeus Shanghala pursues leave to appeal a ruling dismissing his request for Judge Marelize du Plessis to recuse herself. Ricardo Gustavo's lawyer argues the repeated delays infringe the accused's right to a speedy trial and violate constitutional rights.
16 April 2026 · New Era →
A Scottish litigation firm is pursuing a US$1 billion claim against Icelandic fishing company Samherji on behalf of Namibia's state-owned Fishcor, alleging the company used bribes and corruption to obtain fishing quotas between 2012 and 2019. Samherji denies the allegations and says it is defending itself in London courts.
16 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Proceedings in the high-profile corruption trial of former justice minister Sacky Shanghala and others have stalled over a disagreement about which of two competing appeals applications should be heard first—a recusal challenge or a stay-of-proceedings request. The court has adjourned until 5 May 2026 to resolve the procedural impasse.
14 April 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by three Fishrot accused—former attorney general Sacky Shanghala, James Hatuikulipi, and Pius Mwatelulo—challenging the prosecutor general's use of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act to seize their assets. The court upheld the High Court's restraint order covering bank funds, properties, vehicles, and luxury goods, finding that the prosecutor general may rely on Anti-Corruption Commission evidence rather than police investigations alone.
7 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has referred compensation claims from 252 former Samherji employees to the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations, noting that affected workers were already considered under a government redress programme aimed at reintegrating them into the fishing industry following the company's 2019–2020 closure. Some former employees argue that placement at other companies does not fully address their financial losses.
25 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Former employees of Icelandic fishing company Samherji have renewed demands for compensation seven years after losing their jobs when the company ceased operations in Namibia following the 2019 Fishrot scandal. The 252 workers, who received only N$10,000 severance and no consideration for years of service, say they have been left struggling financially while assets and vessels were sold off.
5 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Maren De Klerk, a lawyer implicated in the Fishrot corruption scandal, has taken the Prosecutor General and Inspector General of Police to court seeking release of his N$1.3 million pension fund, which he claims was unlawfully seized. De Klerk, accused of channelling millions through his law firm to co-accused ex-cabinet ministers in the N$10 billion scheme, remains in South Africa pending extradition after technical defects delayed the State's initial extradition application.
4 March 2026 · Informanté →
Two high-profile state prosecutors leading the Fishrot fraud and corruption trial, Deputy Prosecutor General Ed Marondedze and State Prosecutor Cliff Lutibezi, threatened to resign over low pay and were subsequently granted a N$54,000 monthly salary increase. The salary increase has drawn criticism from some colleagues whose own pleas for raises have not been addressed, and from a former deputy prosecutor general who says the timing is problematic given the case's current stage.
7 February 2026 · The Namibian →
After nearly six years, the fishing quota corruption trial in which Namibian fisheries resources were allegedly stolen through deals with Icelandic company Samherji will begin on March 9, 2026. Acting Judge Marilize du Plessis rejected multiple postponement applications from former minister Sacky Shanghala and co-accused, ruling that lengthy delays in the civil review process and years of court proceedings weighed against further delay.
22 January 2026 · New Era →