Kinshasa amicably recovers mining assets from Israeli Dan Gertler
Dan Gertler, the Israeli businessman accused of illicit enrichment in the DRC. Ph. Third Party Rights.
The Congolese State has concluded an amicable agreement with the Israeli businessman Dan Gertler by which he recovers “disputed mining and oil assets” valued at more than 2 billion dollars, announced Friday evening the cell of communication from the presidency to Kinshasa.
This agreement, signed Thursday at the presidency and whose terms have not been specified, “puts an end to the legal dispute” which opposed the Democratic Republic of Congo to Dan Gertler, adds the same source.
The sulphurous businessman has been under American sanctions since 2017 for suspicion of “opaque and corrupt mining and oil contracts” in the DRC, Washington accusing him of having caused the country to lose “1.36 billion dollars in revenue ” taxes in the 2010s.
Close to former President Joseph Kabila (in power from 2001 to 2019), Dan Gertler acted as an intermediary on the country’s biggest contracts for nearly 20 years.
The communication service of the Congolese presidency broadcast images of the signing, in the presence of Dan Gertler who, according to this source, “was delighted with the happy outcome of this conflict”.
The DRC was represented by its Minister of Justice Rose Mutombo who, describing this agreement as a “great event” for the country, was also “delighted with the epilogue of this conflict (…), materialization of the instruction” of President Félix Tshisekedi “confirmed in the Council of Ministers of February 18”.
According to the minutes of this council, a “memorandum of understanding with the Fleurette group” (by Dan Gertler) was then mentioned, which should allow the DRC to “recover the oil blocks and mining assets held by the said Group, valued over $2 billion.”
“Having taken over its mining and oil assets, the DRC will revalue them and the interests will benefit its population, as wanted” Félix Tshisekedi, assures the presidential communication.
“This agreement can in no way be an umbrella that protects Dan Gertler against the charges against him,” the anti-corruption group “Le Congo n’est pas à vente” reacted on Twitter on Saturday.
“Investigations must continue to repair the losses suffered,” he added, also asking that the terms of the agreement be made public.
