COGEP calls for the publication between SAKIMA SA and the Société de droit Rwandais DITHER LTD- DRC

The Coalition for the Governance of Public Enterprises “COGEP”, a platform of civil society organizations which campaign for the transparency and accountability of public enterprises, is concerned about the manifest refusal of the Government to publish the agreement signed on June 26, 2021 between SAKIMA SA (Congolese State portfolio company) and DITHER LTD, a Rwandan entity under private law, agreement concerning the exploitation of gold mines, reports a press release from this platform.

By its press release N ° 04/07 / COGEP / 2021, published on July 2, 2021, COGEP reminded the government of its obligation to respect the Mining Code by publishing the said agreement within the legal deadline of 60 days.

Note that Law No. 18/001 of March 9, 2018 amending and supplementing Law No. 007/2002 of July 11, 2002 on the Mining Code and Decree 18/024 of June 8, 2018 amending and supplementing Law No. 038/2003 of March 26, 2003 on the Mining Regulations oblige the Congolese Government to publish mining contracts and their annexes in the Official Journal of the Republic and on the website of the Ministry of Mines within sixty days of their signature.

“Today, more than sixty days later, COGEP unfortunately notes that the agreement is neither on the website of the Ministry of Mines, and still not published in the Official Journal of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Government seems to have chosen opacity as the mode of management of companies in the State portfolio, which is a heritage common to all citizens, ”complains COGEP.

Therefore, this platform asks, once again, the Prime Minister to use his prerogatives as Head of Government to materialize the will of the LEGISLATOR, by taking the necessary measures so that the agreement signed between SAKIMA SA and the Rwandan firm DITHER LTD, be published without delay in accordance with the Mining Code.

At the same time, COGEP asked the President of the Republic, Félix Tshisekedi, the authority under whose supervision this agreement was negotiated and signed and in his capacity as guarantor of the proper functioning of the institutions, to urge the government to follow suit. comply with the law by making this agreement public.