Global Witness - Breaking the links between natural resources, conflict and corruption
The Sassou Nguesso case
In July 2007, Global Witness fought off an attempt by the son of the President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso to remove various documents of his from our website. These showed that in his position as a public official - he is the boss of Cotrade, the marketing arm of the state oil company - he may have used state oil revenues to fund his lavish personal lifestyle. The documents included secret company information and two years' worth of his 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. While Congolese oil revenue brings in $3 billion per year, 70% of the population have to survive on less than a dollar a day.
We believe that these documents are in the public interest, and the judge agreed. In fact he said ‘...I am clear that there is an important public interest in its publication....'. He also said that "...there may never be a trial in Hong Kong of the issue whether the Claimants are ‘unsavoury or corrupt'. The specified documents, unless explained, frankly suggest that they are."
Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso
Oil operations
One of a number of shops Denis Christel visited in Paris
Abandoned building, Republic of Congo
A hotel where Denis Christel stayed in Paris
Shelled building, Republic of Congo
The Royal Courts of Justice, London
Global Witness is determined to publish such information regardless of the threats this can incur. We are taking a lead to show not only that it's important to get the issues out there, but that fighting off legal threats deliver major campaign gains.
The outcome of the case couldn't be better: it's not just that the documents are still available for all to see, but in addition more publicity has been generated because there was a case, and the judgement was extremely strong, suggesting that Sassou Nguesso Jnr is indeed corrupt. Lawyers acting for Sassou's fellow big spender and his deputy at Cotrade, Blaise Elenga, were also shaping up for a fight but have gone extremely quiet since the judgement.
We fought off this legal challenge, and the documents are still available for all to see. However, such victories don't come cheap. This one cost us £55,000, taking up money that could have been spent on our different campaigns. Despite being awarded costs in court, we have still not been paid. This provides a further illustration of the crippling effect the current system can have on civil society organisations, and underlines the case for urgent reform.
Congo: Is President’s son paying for designer shopping sprees with country’s oil money?
High Court blocks bid by Congo leader's son to bury evidence of "secret" payments
To read more on the Sassou Nguesso case at the Times Online click here.
Latest Publications
March 2010
New evidence confirms oil revenue transparency still eludes Sudan
Large discrepancies persist between the oil production data published by the government of Sudan and those published by the main Chinese oil company operating in the country, Global Witness said today, six months after the publication of its report which first exposed the gaps.
Environmental groups call on French shipping company Delmas to cancel shipment of precious wood from Madagascar
Global Witness and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) today called on French shipping company Delmas to cancel a shipment to China of hundreds of tons of rosewood from the port of Vohémar, in northeastern Madagascar. The campaign groups accuse the company of facilitating the destruction of Madagascar’s last remaining forests caused by vast illegal logging of rosewood.
Open letter to Delmas shipping company raises concerns over rosewood shipments from Madagascar
An open letter from Global Witness and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) to Delmas shipping company expressing grave concerns at its involvement in the transport of timber from Madagascar which has been declared illicit by the Malagasy authorities. The groups accuse Delmas of facilitaitng the destruction Madagascar's remaining rosewood forests through illegal logging.
Link between Angolan president's son-in-law and state oil company raises questions about transparency
The son-in-law of the Angolan president has been nominated to the board of a holding company that owns a third of the Portuguese oil firm Galp Energia, which has investments in Angola. The nomination was made by the State oil company, Sonangol, which is responsible for managing Angola's oil on behalf of its citizens. This arrangement raises concerns about conflicts of interest to which Sonangol has not responded.
DR Congo: ex-rebels take over mineral trade extortion racket
Former rebels from the Congrès national pour la défense du peuple (CNDP) have established mafia-style extortion rackets covering some of the most lucrative tin and tantalum mining areas in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Global Witness reported today following four weeks of research in the region.
Global Witness concerned at choice of new Ukraine energy minister
Global Witness is concerned that Yuri Boyko, a controversial figure from the murky past of Ukraine’s gas industry, has been put back in effective charge of a key gas supply route from Russia to the European Union.
Landmark oil and mining transparency initiative faces credibility test as key deadline passes
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a pioneering initiative to bring more openness to the world's oil and mining industries, faces a major credibility test after 20 out of 22 countries failed to meet a key deadline today.
Global Witness urges Cambodia’s donors to condemn sponsorship of military units by private businesses
Aid donors to Cambodia, including the US, EU, Japan, China and the World Bank, should send a strong message to the government that they will not countenance the bankrolling of Cambodia’s military by private businesses. This call follows the announcement last week by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen of the formation of 42 official partnerships between private businesses and Cambodian military units.
February 2010
A near miss? Lessons learnt from the allocation of mining licences in the Gola Forest Reserve in Sierra Leone
Between 2005 and 2007, two mining licences were issued in the Gola Forest Reserve in Sierra Leone, even though the area was a proposed national park. This new report identifies weaknesses in Sierra Leone's natural resource governance and attempts to draw lessons for the future.
Parliamentary committee report on libel, privacy and press freedom not strong enough to defend public interest reporting
A report on press standards, privacy and libel makes broadly sensible recommendations but does not go far enough to allay fears that England's laws are a barrier to public-interest campaigning.
Campaigners criticise proposals to define palm oil plantations as forests
The Ecosystems Climate Alliance today criticised the EU and Indonesia for attempting to reclassify palm oil plantations as forests, saying this would be a step backwards in efforts to halt climate change though preventing deforestation.
28 countries accused of facilitating money laundering … but key offenders missing
An international financial crime watchdog has named and shamed countries that are failing to stop dirty money entering the financial system, a move welcomed by Global Witness. However, conspicuously absent are major financial centres and secrecy jurisdictions, many of which also have serious weaknesses in their anti-money laundering regulations.
