Planned revisions to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s hydrocarbons law contain major flaws that could allow gross mismanagement of the country’s oil wealth and serious environmental impacts. The draft text,... read more
News and reports
09.05.2013 | Oil law before Congo parliament fails to safeguard against corruption or environmental damage – Global Witness
07.05.2013 | New investigation from Global Witness reveals high-level military involvement in eastern Congo's gold trade
简体中文
At a critical time for the region's minerals trade companies must undertake supply chain checks and put responsible sourcing into practise
Global Witness' investigation last month in eastern Democratic Republic of... read more
30.04.2013 | Logging in the shadows: how vested interests abuse shadow permits to evade forest sector reforms
Systematic abuse of small, poorly regulated logging permits in Africa by companies, forest officials and politicians is undermining efforts to fight deforestation and keep illegal timber out of the EU, says a new report... read more
Click here to download this report
Cliquez ici pour lire ce communiqué de presse en français
简体中文
Systematic abuse of small, poorly regulated logging permits in Africa by companies, forest officials and politicians is... read more
Global Witness raised repeated concerns of corruption risks over opaque mining deals in Congo
The UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) announced yesterday that they are opening a criminal investigation into FTSE 100... read more
A criminal complaint filed today by the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) and Global Witness accuses a senior manager of Swiss and German timber manufacturer the Danzer Group of aiding and... read more
Global Witness welcomes the move by Rwandan-born warlord Bosco Ntaganda to turn himself in at the U.S. Embassy in Kigali yesterday. The group warns, however, that lasting peace in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (... read more
20.02.2013 | Major breakthrough in fight to end illegal logging as Interpol arrests 200 across 12 countries
Global Witness welcomes Interpol’s announcement that it has arrested nearly 200 people and seized around US$8 million worth of illegal timber in a major international crackdown on illegal logging and timber trafficking... read more
Washington, 11th February 2013: The World Bank Board of Directors has blocked a call by independent evaluators to review the outcomes of the Bank’s support for industrial-scale logging in tropical rainforests. The... read more
Cameroon | Democratic Republic of Congo | Ecuador | Ghana | Guatemala | Liberia | Peru | Forest Transparency
Public access to information remains a major obstacle to saving rainforests
Commitments to improve public access to information over how forests are managed in developing countries are not being met, said Global... read more
01.02.2013 | World Bank foresters ignore independent evaluation and pledge to carry on logging the world’s rainforests
Cambodia | Cameroon | Democratic Republic of Congo | Indonesia | Liberia | Industrial Forest Use | Forests
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Global Witness available for comment
An independent evaluation leaked earlier this week found that the World Bank’s support for the logging of tropical rainforests is failing in its key aims of... read more
One story that will be sure to develop in 2013 is the controversy around ENRC’s activities in Congo. For the background for this, a good place to start is the Global Witness statement of 23 December: “ENRC shareholders... read more
Shareholders of London-listed Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation will meet on Friday 28 December to vote on a $550 million deal aimed at buying out its main copper-and-cobalt mining partner in the Democratic... read more
On 22 August 2012 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published the final rule for Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act.
The provision aims to prevent the trade in tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold from fuelling... read more
For Immediate Release
Bloomberg and Reuters news agencies have reported that the International Monetary Fund has halted its loan programme with the Democratic Republic of Congo because of concerns over transparency in... read more
09.05.2013 | Oil law before Congo parliament fails to safeguard against corruption or environmental damage – Global Witness
Planned revisions to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s hydrocarbons law contain major flaws that could allow gross mismanagement of the country’s oil wealth and serious environmental impacts. The draft text,... read more
07.05.2013 | New investigation from Global Witness reveals high-level military involvement in eastern Congo's gold trade
简体中文
At a critical time for the region's minerals trade companies must undertake supply chain checks and put responsible sourcing into practise
Global Witness' investigation last month in eastern Democratic Republic of... read more
Click here to download this report
Cliquez ici pour lire ce communiqué de presse en français
简体中文
Systematic abuse of small, poorly regulated logging permits in Africa by companies, forest officials and politicians is... read more
Global Witness raised repeated concerns of corruption risks over opaque mining deals in Congo
The UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) announced yesterday that they are opening a criminal investigation into FTSE 100... read more
A criminal complaint filed today by the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) and Global Witness accuses a senior manager of Swiss and German timber manufacturer the Danzer Group of aiding and... read more
Global Witness welcomes the move by Rwandan-born warlord Bosco Ntaganda to turn himself in at the U.S. Embassy in Kigali yesterday. The group warns, however, that lasting peace in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (... read more
20.02.2013 | Major breakthrough in fight to end illegal logging as Interpol arrests 200 across 12 countries
Global Witness welcomes Interpol’s announcement that it has arrested nearly 200 people and seized around US$8 million worth of illegal timber in a major international crackdown on illegal logging and timber trafficking... read more
Washington, 11th February 2013: The World Bank Board of Directors has blocked a call by independent evaluators to review the outcomes of the Bank’s support for industrial-scale logging in tropical rainforests. The... read more
Cameroon | Democratic Republic of Congo | Ecuador | Ghana | Guatemala | Liberia | Peru | Forest Transparency
Public access to information remains a major obstacle to saving rainforests
Commitments to improve public access to information over how forests are managed in developing countries are not being met, said Global... read more
01.02.2013 | World Bank foresters ignore independent evaluation and pledge to carry on logging the world’s rainforests
Cambodia | Cameroon | Democratic Republic of Congo | Indonesia | Liberia | Industrial Forest Use | Forests
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Global Witness available for comment
An independent evaluation leaked earlier this week found that the World Bank’s support for the logging of tropical rainforests is failing in its key aims of... read more
Shareholders of London-listed Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation will meet on Friday 28 December to vote on a $550 million deal aimed at buying out its main copper-and-cobalt mining partner in the Democratic... read more
On 22 August 2012 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published the final rule for Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act.
The provision aims to prevent the trade in tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold from fuelling... read more
For Immediate Release
Bloomberg and Reuters news agencies have reported that the International Monetary Fund has halted its loan programme with the Democratic Republic of Congo because of concerns over transparency in... read more
For immediate release
Legal action by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce threatens to protect business practices that are fuelling bloodshed in Africa.
Global Witness today condemned recent legal action by the U.S. Chamber of... read more
Global Witness today expressed grave concern at the worsening humanitarian situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo caused by fighting between M23 rebels and the Congolese army (FARDC).
“The M23 and FARDC... read more
30.04.2013 | Logging in the shadows: how vested interests abuse shadow permits to evade forest sector reforms
Systematic abuse of small, poorly regulated logging permits in Africa by companies, forest officials and politicians is undermining efforts to fight deforestation and keep illegal timber out of the EU, says a new report... read more
Shareholders of London-listed Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation will meet on Friday 28 December to vote on a $550 million deal aimed at buying out its main copper-and-cobalt mining partner in the Democratic... read more
Click here to read the press release.
Click here for response from DRC government.
Industrial logging companies and officials are systematically abusing community logging permits in order to bypass the Democratic... read more
11.10.2012 | New Congolese oil and mining codes must include strong measures on transparency, tenders and community rights
As the Democratic Republic of Congo begins the process of revising its mining and oil codes, Global Witness has published its recommendations on how the codes could best ensure transparent and accountable management of... read more
29.08.2012 | Global Witness comment on SEC conflict minerals rule
Click here to read our initial comment on some of the key provisions relating to companies’ implementation.
On 22 August the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted on the rules for the Dodd... read more
A summary by Global Witness, June 2012
Read our briefing document summarising baseline evaluations of artisanal mining communities in eastern DRC.
Seven baseline evaluations of artisanal mining communities in eastern... read more
Read our FAQ on the current situation in eastern DRC
A new rebellion against the Congolese government was launched in April 2012 in eastern DRC. The insurgent group is known as the M23 and is thought to comprise around... read more
12.06.2012 | Global Witness's memo to ENRC's shareholders
ENRC must address corruption concerns in DRC and publish findings.
Click the link below to download the full memo. read more
30.05.2012 | Coming clean: How supply chain controls can stop Congo's minerals trade fuelling conflict
La version française
简体中文
SEC due to vote on Section 1502 of the Dodd Frank Act
Renewed violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) underscores the urgent need for companies and governments to clean up Congo’... read more
09.05.2012 | Global Witness's memo to Glencore's shareholders
Secrecy surrounding Glencore’s business deals in DRC risks exposing shareholders to corrupt practices.
Click the link below to read the memo. read more
05.05.2012 | Glencore has questions to answer: A Global Witness investigation into potentially corrupt deals in Congo
On this page you will find details of the Global Witness investigation into Glencore, including the briefing we sent to Glencore's shareholders and questions we put to Glencore and Dan Gertler in writing, along with the... read more
READ THE PRESS RELEASE
READ THE REPORT
Read the "Citizens checklist" aimed at preventing corruption in the award of oil, gas and mining licences.
Lire la « Liste de vérification à l’attention des citoyens » en français... read more
This submission focuses on the role of the financial sector of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) in facilitating a possible loss in value of billions of dollars from state mining assets in the Democratic Republic of... read more
Lire en français
In July and August 2011, news came out that state mining companies in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Gécamines and Sodimico had sold stakes in four major mining sites without making the... read more
22.11.2011 | Global Witness spokespeople available for comment on “secret sales” scandal in DR Congo
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... read more
One story that will be sure to develop in 2013 is the controversy around ENRC’s activities in Congo. For the background for this, a good place to start is the Global Witness statement of 23 December: “ENRC shareholders... read more
By Tom Picken - read this blog on Reuters Trustlaw
International efforts to protect forests and the people that live in them have failed so badly that just 20 per cent of forest remains untouched by commercial activity... read more
20.08.2012 | Tokyo Sexwale and the DRC's Mr Grab
"A $150-million investment ties Tokyo Sexwale to a controversial Israeli businessman as he pulled off the "heist" of a prize mining asset in the DRC" - Mail & Guardian. Click here to read the article. read more
Britain is being urged to help close down a legal loophole that lets financiers known as "vulture funds" use courts in Jersey to claim hundreds of millions of pounds from the world's poorest countries, write Greg Palast... read more
A major international anti-corruption provision in the Dodd-Frank financial reform legislation remains stalled at the Securities and Exchange Commission, a year after the bill was passed by Congress and three months... read more
The US-sponsored plot to kill Patrice Lumumba, the hero of Congolese independence, took place 50 years ago today, says the Guardian's Poverty Matters blog. read more
Nicholas Christof's blog on New York Times - Notes From a Young American in Congo: A Good Man… read more
One story that will be sure to develop in 2013 is the controversy around ENRC’s activities in Congo. For the background for this, a good place to start is the Global Witness statement of 23 December: “ENRC shareholders... read more
From the Daily Mail
ENRC has resolved not to buy mineral rights via controversial middlemen who campaign groups say pose an appearance or risk of corruption, the Mail understands.
Chairman Mehmet Dalman has taken an... read more
24.11.2011 | Daily Telegraph: Britain's aid towards Democratic Republic of Congo under scrutiny over mining deals
06.09.2011 | The Hill - A Crucial Few Weeks for Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) mineral market has vast potential, and if properly regulated, could be the catalyst for the country’s development while offering solid returns for international investors.... read more
A campaign to clean up electronic companies' mineral supply chains may ameliorate the chaos of ungovernable mining, asks Madeleine Bunting in the Guardian. Read here. read more
Reporting from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) the BBC's Paul Moss hears local views of how minerals fuel conflict in the region.
Clicke here to listen. read more
CBC News -Congolese try suing Anvil Mining in Canada read more
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