Johannesburg – South African telecommunications giant MTN Group is set to enter the next phase of a long-running US anti-terrorism lawsuit after a New York court rejected its bid to have certain claims reconsidered or immediately appealed.
According to BusinessTech, the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York on 25 September 2026 denied MTN’s applications relating to the Zobay v MTN Group case. The related Long v MTN Group matter will also proceed, with both cases now moving into the discovery phase, where the parties exchange evidence and information.
The cases form part of several lawsuits brought under the US Anti-Terrorism Act against MTN over allegations linked to its former operations and business interests in countries including Afghanistan, Iran and Syria.
Among the allegations are claims that MTN paid protection money to the Taliban to safeguard telecommunications infrastructure, thereby allegedly supporting terrorist activity and contributing to attacks in which US military personnel were killed. MTN has denied wrongdoing.
MTN’s regulatory announcement
Moneyweb, reporting on MTN’s regulatory announcement, said the court’s latest rulings are “procedural and do not constitute a finding of wrongdoing or liability against MTN.”
MTN said the next stage will give it an opportunity to challenge the factual allegations with evidence.
“Under US law and procedures, MTN could not challenge the factual allegations made against the company at the motion-to-dismiss phase,” the company said.
It added that it will now have an opportunity “to produce and solicit evidence to disprove plaintiffs’ allegations.”
The company also reiterated its position that it was not responsible for the attacks at issue.
“MTN continues to believe that the evidence will demonstrate that MTN was not a culpable participant in the attacks at issue,” it said.
Discovery process
The cases come amid broader US scrutiny of MTN’s historical activities in the Middle East. Reuters reported in August 2025 that MTN was also facing a US Department of Justice grand-jury investigation concerning its conduct and that of its former Afghan subsidiary, as well as its involvement in Iranian operator Irancell, in which MTN owns 49%.
BusinessDay previously reported that the litigation had been running for several years, with families of US soldiers killed or wounded in Afghanistan among those pursuing claims alleging that MTN paid protection money to the Taliban. MTN has consistently disputed the allegations.
The discovery process will be followed by possible applications for summary judgment. If those applications are not made, or are unsuccessful, the litigation could proceed to trial, according to MTN’s latest disclosure.
MTN said it would “continue to defend the proceedings vigorously” and consider all available legal options.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
