DRC: CNPAV considers Dan Gertler’s proposal “less relevant” and calls for a judicial inquiry rather than a round table

The Congo is not for sale (CNPAV), in a press release published this Friday, May 14, gave its opinion on the proposal made by the Israeli businessman Dan Gertler on the proposal of a round table bringing together this platform with other “unidentified” civil society groups

First, the CNPAV doubts the credibility of this proposal because it has not been officially informed. It is through the media that the CNPAV declares that it was informed of this proposal. 

“Congo is not for sale saw a document allegedly from Mr. Gertler’s ‘communication service’ which has been circulating on social media since the publication of his report. This document suggests a roundtable with the CNPAV and with other unidentified civil society groups CNPAV cannot confirm that this is really a proposal from Mr. Gertler. We have not received anything directly from him, nor from his company. communication to which he usually uses. Yet he knows our contact details, “said the CNPAV press release.

In its press release, Congo is not for sale says it has provided Mr. Gertler with the opportunity to respond to their
allegations since April 2, 2021, to no avail.

“We wrote to him on April 2, 2021 with detailed questions on all the figures presented in our report, which is more than a month before its publication. The methodology and the sources used are clearly detailed in the report. We have asked him to correct any possible error and requested evidence. He did not respond, “said press release. 

In addition, the CNPAV finds that for having refused to answer its request, the invitation to the round table proposed by Gertler – if it really comes from Mr. Gertler – is irrelevant. 

“A roundtable between Mr. Gertler and civil society will not resolve the $ 3.7 billion in losses the DRC state is facing as a result of its agreements. These huge losses should be a matter of the highest order. a priority for the Congolese government and it must find an urgent solution. This is particularly critical at a time when the DRC is desperately seeking funding to support its budget, “added the CNPAV press release.

This civil society platform finds that President Tshisekedi should open a credible and independent judicial inquiry into the agreements made with Mr. Gertler and his companies. 

And the CNPAV to drive the nails in: 

“It is the responsibility of Mr. Gertler to cooperate fully with the legal authorities and to provide all documents and payments which he has made and received.”

Recall that Dan Gertler invited “The Congo is not for sale”, as well as other civil society platforms to a round table in order to clarify “various misunderstandings” and information that he describes as erroneous contained in the latest report from this civil society consortium. The date and place are to be fixed by mutual agreement, he said, in a press release signed by his communication service.