Federal Court Refuses Appeal
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York has turned down requests by African telecommunications giant MTN Group to reconsider a prior ruling or permit an immediate appeal in its ongoing litigation. Presiding US District Judge Carol Bagley Amon issued the order on 25 September 2026, refusing to stay the proceedings or fast-track the matter to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
The judicial decision centres primarily on the Zobay case, alongside the associated Long lawsuit. The judge determined that the telecommunications provider failed to show the exceptional circumstances required to pause litigation or justify an interlocutory appeal prior to trial.
Transition to Discovery Phase
With the procedural challenges dismissed, the lawsuit will officially move into the discovery phase. During this upcoming period, the involved parties must exchange relevant documentation and internal records. MTN highlighted that previous legal phases did not allow the company to challenge the factual assertions made by plaintiffs, meaning the recent rulings represent procedural steps rather than any determination of guilt or liability.
In addition to the Zobay and Long actions, MTN continues to monitor two other cases filed under the US Anti-Terrorism Act, known as Cabrera and Chand & Davis. Industry analysts at AfroTech Horizon closely follow how regulatory and corporate accountability actions shape tech ecosystem investments across the continent.
MTN Defense Strategy
MTN maintains that its operations were lawful and firmly denies allegations of wrongdoing or culpable participation in attacks across Iraq and Afghanistan. Expressing sympathy for victims of conflict, the company stated that the evidence produced in the forthcoming discovery phase will demonstrate its innocence. Following discovery, both sides will have the opportunity to submit motions for summary judgment before any potential trial proceeds.
