Global Witness - Breaking the links between natural resources, conflict and corruption
Corruption in Oil, Gas and Mining
View latest releases on corruption in oil, gas and mining
Many countries that are rich in oil, gas and other minerals are nonetheless mired in poverty and poor government because the public revenues earned from selling these resources have been squandered through corruption and lack of government accountability to citizens.
Citizens of resource-rich countries cannot hold their governments to account, and ensure that mineral resources are used in a fair and sustainable way, unless they have full information about the management of these resources.
Through field investigations and high-level advocacy, we work to increase transparency in the flow of revenues from oil, gas and mining companies to governments, as well as more transparency in the award of mineral concessions, the trading of resources and the role of banks and other middlemen in resource-related corruption.
History of the Campaign
In 2004, Global Witness published Time For Transparency - a report that uncovered mismanagement of the resource revenues of Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Congo Brazzaville & Nauru. 
In 2005, Global Witness published Paying For Protection - a report that documented how the company Freeport McMoRan was seemingly paying money directly to the officers of the notoriously corrupt Indonesian security services for the protection of its mines.
In 2006, Global Witness published It's a Gas - a report that examined the gas trade between Ukraine, Russia and Turkmenistan, the latter a police state whose then autocratic President, Saparmurat Niyazov, financed his ubiquitous personality cult (replete with golden statues of himself, see right) through revenues coming from the sale of his country's natural gas.
In 2008, Global Witness fought off a legal challenge by the son of the President of the Republic of Congo to remove various documents from our website. These showed that in his position as a public official, he appeared to have used state oil revenues to fund his lavish personal lifestyle. The documents included credit card bills which showed he spent $250,000 in two years on one card alone, mainly in the designer stores of Paris, Monaco and Dubai.
In January 2009, Global Witness continued to highlight the opacity of the Russia-Ukraine gas trade and the role of the intermediary company RosUkrEnergo as a key factor in the dispute between the two countries by writing an open letter to Gazprom. This second cut-off in three years also prompted Global Witness to write a letter to the President of the European Commission about the urgent need to address the problems of opacity and corruption which threaten the EU's energy security. The letter was prescient: in May 2009, Hungary's largest independent gas supplier, Emfesz, was taken over by an apparent shell company in Switzerland whose owners are currently unknown. Global Witness' briefing on the matter (More Funny Business in Europe's Gas Trade) highlighted how the EU needs to address the issue of secrecy not just in its external relations but also on its internal markets. This was followed up in October 2009 with the launch of All That Gas, an investigation which outlined why the EU was wrong to develop a close relationship with a dictatorship like Turkmenistan in the pursuit of a steady gas supply. The report also featured cartoons by cult satirist David Rees.
In February 2009, after years of working on Cambodia's forestry sector, Global Witness published Country For Sale, detailing how rights to exploit oil and mineral resources have been allocated behind closed doors by a small number of powerbrokers surrounding the prime minister and other senior officials.
Publish What You Pay
Global Witness conceived and co-launched the Publish What You Pay (PWYP) campaign, a civil society coalition with more than 300 member groups around the world, which works to promote greater transparency in the oil, gas and mining industries. We are also a leading participant in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a global process launched in 2003 which brings together governments, companies and civil society groups to work for greater public disclosure and independent oversight of oil, gas and mining revenues. For our view on the challenges and opportunites facing the EITI, read our press-release.
Links
Latest Publications
July 2010
The Bribery Act: what it means for business
Briefing paper produced by the Chartered Institute of Managment Accountants in collaboration with Global Witness outlining the implications for accountants and businesses worldwide of the new 2010 UK Bribery Act.
Global Witness takes UK government to court for failing to list UK companies trading Congo conflict minerals for UN sanctions
Global Witness has made an application to the High Court for a judicial review of the British government is acting unlawfully in refusing to put forward eligible UK companies and individuals trading in Congolese ‘conflict minerals' for targeted UN sanctions, said campaign group Global Witness today
Рисковый бизнес: кто контролирует Казахмыс ПЛС?
Russian translation of 'Risky Business' report.
Russkyi perevod doklada 'Riskovyi biznes.'
Letter on civil society participation in climate change and deforestation talks
Global Witness has signed a letter along with 39 other organisations complaining about the short notice given to civil society groups regarding participation in a meeting of the Interim REDD+ Partnership in Brasilia from 14-15 July. The non-transparent process and restrictions on participation violate the spirit and letter of the agreement and represent a serious false start.
U.S. passes landmark reforms on resource transparency
Global Witness strongly welcomes a ground-breaking new bill, passed by the U.S. Senate today, which will help to lift the curse of corruption and conflict from poor countries that are rich in oil and minerals by promoting greater public oversight and responsible trading practices.
Crisis averted by last-minute deal on Zimbabwe diamonds, but campaigners warn that biggest test lies ahead
A deal reached by the Kimberley Process diamond certification scheme could pave the way for reinforced oversight of diamond production in Zimbabwe, while allowing for limited exports. The deal is far from perfect and its success or otherwise will be determined by what the main players do next.
Renewing the Pledge: Re-Engaging the Guarantors to the Sudanese Comprehensive Peace Agreement
With six months until a referendum on Southern independence, Sudan is alarmingly unprepared. Renewing the Pledge is published by a coalition of 26 NGOs, including Global Witness from Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the US. The report calls calls for urgent action from African heads of state who will meet shortly at a major summit of the African Union in Uganda from 19 – 27 July.
Six months before critical referendum, Sudan alarmingly unprepared
With six months until a referendum on Southern independence, Sudan is alarmingly unprepared according to a new report published today by a global coalition of 26 humanitarian and human rights organisations. The report calls for urgent action from African heads of state at the African Union summit.
Kazakh company on FTSE 100 a risk for investors, says Global Witness
Kazakhmys plc, a FTSE 100 company which mines copper in the Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan, failed to declare potentially key information about its shareholders and directors when it listed on the London Stock Exchange, thereby exposing investors to unquantifiable risk, warned Global Witness in a report published today.
Bail for Zimbabwe diamond activist welcome, but charges must be dropped
We welcome the decision by the Harare High Court to grant bail to Zimbawean human rights campaogner, Farai Maguwu, who has been in custody since 3 June. The spurious charges against Fairai must now be droppped immediately.
Risky Business: Kazakhstan, Kazakhmys plc and the London Stock Exchange
Kazakhmys plc, a FTSE 100 company which mines copper in the Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan, failed to declare potentially key information about its shareholders and directors when it listed on the London Stock Exchange, thereby exposing investors to unquantifiable risk.
This report raises serious concerns about London's "light-touch" market regulation and argues that it would be in the public interest for companies like Kazakhmys to be required to provide much more information to investors about political risk.
Congo Now! petition calls on UK to do more to end violence in DRC
Congo Now! is a coalition of non-governmental organisations, politicians and Congolese activists who are calling for the UK government to do more to end the cycle of violence and suffering in the resource-rich country.
Global Witness welcomes new EU law banning illegal timber
The European Parliament has introduced new legislation banning the trade of illegally sourced timber and timber products in EU member states. Global Witness warmly welcomed the reform as an important step towards cracking down on illegal logging around the world.
Do No Harm: A guide for companies sourcing from the DRC
Companies sourcing minerals and metals from conflict zones have a responsibility to ensure that they are not directly or indirectly funding human rights abuses or other crimes. Some companies claim that it is too complicated or too difficult for them to do. Global Witness has produced a guide, outlining the steps they must take.
Negotiations between north and south Sudan must include a fair and transparent oil deal
A fair and transparent arrangement for sharing and monitoring the revenues from Sudan’s oil fields should be a top priority for negotiators from north and south Sudan who begin talks today on what will happen if the south votes for independence in January’s referendum, said campaign group Global Witness.
5 Principles for a Post-Referendum Oil Deal in Sudan - briefing paper
A fair and transparent arrangement for sharing and monitoring the revenues from Sudan’s oil fields should be a top priority for negotiators from north and south Sudan who begin talks today on what will happen if the south votes for independence in January’s referendum. The January vote could see the birth of a new country: if so, it will be impoverished and heavily dependent on oil revenues, yet also dependent on former foes in north in order to export its oil. Transparency over oil revenues will be critical to preventing a return to war - this briefing paper outlines 5 principles that will be crucial in reaching such an agreement.
June 2010
Liberian debt relief welcome but better financial controls needed to prevent corruption
The decision by the World Bank to grant debt relief to Liberia under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC) is welcome but more needs to be done to prevent corruption in the post-conflict country.
