Andrew Tate is a divisive modern-day influencer, who’s currently under investigation for human trafficking in the UK. His citizenship status in Vanuatu has since been placed under ferocious scrutiny. The Vanuatu government is still pursuing a rigorous investigation into Tate’s acquisition of his passport. This comes in the wake of grave allegations of rape, human trafficking, and other crimes. Tate’s legal woes deepened last month as he now faces charges for sex trafficking and rape stemming from allegations of incidents that took place from 2012 to 2015.
For the record, Tate is a dual US-UK citizen. He allegedly purchased one such fast-tracked passport, making use of Vanuatu’s Development Support Program. This program has a huge barrier to entry, with a minimum investment of $130,000 USD, or about $201,000. He only got that passport in December 2022—around the time of his arrest in Romania on the same charges.
Legal Charges Against Andrew Tate
Andrew Tate should be in serious legal trouble. British authorities have already charged him with both rape and actual bodily harm under the UK Modern Slavery Act. Additionally, he stands accused of running a prostitution enterprise for profit. Tate have repeatedly and vehemently denied these allegations, claiming that he is completely innocent of these serious charges.
His imminent arrest in Romania has opened a Pandora’s box of speculation about his distracting and unhelpful lifestyle and habits. When the investigations are inevitably going to take place into this, evidence will still be accumulating on his case in Romania but here in the UK. These allegations have significantly damaged Tate’s public image. They have expressed concerns about his citizenship status in Vanuatu.
“Of course, those that are wanted by their country or are being investigated by police authorities from overseas are not wanted, not welcome to be part of the citizenship of Vanuatu.” – Kiery Manassah
Vanuatu Government’s Response
In light of these developments, Tate’s government in Vanuatu has launched an inquiry to determine how he was able to get citizenship in the first place. Kiery Manassah, a spokesperson for the government, said they would expeditiously review all releasable files. They are resolved to look closely at the processes that went into Tate’s failed citizenship application. The government’s goal is to deprive him of citizenship if a court finds that he constitutes a danger to the community.
Manassah acknowledged that there was a lapse in the country’s citizenship-by-investment scheme, stating, “We’re definitely looking into it and once we have the files, definitely the processes will be in place to revoke his citizenship.” Can Jotham Napat, the new Prime Minister of Vanuatu, succeed in overhauling the heavily-abused economic citizenship program. He’s trying to make sure no one does what’s unlawful in the future.
“These are things that will take time, especially to put back the confidence and the credibility of our travelling documents.” – Kiery Manassah
Community Reactions and Future Implications
The case has raised issues among residents of Vanuatu about the consequences of giving citizenship to people such as Andrew Tate. Civic and local advocates warn that when such figures become the de facto standard, they can shape societal expectations in harmful ways. Jane Iatika, a resident of Vanuatu, remarked, “It’s better that we review everyone’s information before we give out the passports or citizenships to people like that.”
The mood among other residents is indicative of calls for a tightening up of the regulations around the citizenship-by-investment scheme. Aubrey Belford, who reported on the issue in Vanuatu, warned of the siren call for a small nation like Vanuatu to sell citizenship. The reality is that most passport holders will never even visit the country.
“For a small country like Vanuatu it’s very tempting to accept that money, especially since most of the people who will get a Vanuatu passport will never set foot in Vanuatu.” – Aubrey Belford
A stronger commitment to reforming the government’s approach to citizenship would signal a recognition of these issues and a desire to restore trust in its citizenship processes. As this situation develops, it remains crucial for Vanuatu to balance its economic interests with maintaining its integrity as a nation.
