Global Witness welcomes the recent statement by UK MP Eric Joyce raising concerns over the secretive sales of what appear to be billions-of-dollars-worth of mining assets in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mr Joyce, who is Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Great Lakes Region of Africa, described “a systematic pattern of underselling Congolese mining assets to off-shore ‘shell’ companies incorporated almost exclusively in the British Virgin Islands.”

Mr Joyce raises hugely important issues that are central to the governance of one of the most resource-rich nations on earth, at a critical point in its troubled history.

Global Witness has been independently looking into this matter and is able to comment on Mr Joyce’s statement, which echoes concerns the organisation expressed in written and oral testimony to the UK’s International Development Committee on 23 September.

Contact:

Daniel Balint-Kurti: +44 (0)20 7492 5872, dbalint-kurti@globalwitness.org

Oliver Courtney: +44 (0)7815 731 889, ocourtney@globalwitness.org

Notes:

• Click here for Eric Joyce’s statement of November 18. 
• Click here for written testimony by Global Witness to the UK Parliament’s International Development Committee. 
• Click here for transcript of oral testimony , September 13 2011.