Allegations of Illegal Forest Concessions Rock Congolese Government
The Minister of State for Environment and Sustainable Development, Ève Bazaiba Masudi, is facing accusations of unlawfully awarding forest concessions.
Greenpeace Africa has raised concerns, alleging that the minister granted concessions spanning over a million hectares to a single company in violation of existing laws and regulations.
According to Greenpeace Africa, these concessions were allocated in provinces like Tshopo and Sud-Ubangi, among others, contrary to established legal frameworks.
The NGO asserts that Minister Bazaiba granted these concessions to the company SORFA even before its official registration in the DRC.
In a press release issued on April 8, Greenpeace Africa highlighted that one of the concessions, numbered 001/23 in Basoko (Tshopo), was assigned to the Forest Restoration and Development Company (SORFA).
The company’s statutes reveal that WWC holds a 70% stake, with Professor Jean-Robert Bwangoy, WWC’s director of operations in the DRC, holding 10%, and Meize Mompongo, allegedly a cousin of Bwangoy, holding the remaining 20%.
Professor Bwangoy stated that he designated Ms. Mompongo to represent the communities neighboring the SORFA concessions. However, questions arise regarding her independence, given her familial ties to the company director.
Greenpeace Africa has also cast doubts on the legitimacy of these concessions, noting discrepancies such as Ms. Mompongo’s electoral candidacy in a different constituency and claims from Professor Bwangoy’s uncle regarding the location of the concessions.
Under the DRC’s forestry code, concessions exceeding certain areas require presidential approval or legislative enactment, procedures allegedly overlooked in this case.
Despite these allegations, the Minister of Environment has yet to address the concerns raised by Greenpeace Africa.
