Les informations distillées au compte-gouttes et les tractations douteuses affaiblissent le processus de revisitation des contrats miniers.
À la veille du commencement des renégociations promises des contrats miniers en République démocratique du Congo (RDC), des organisations non gouvernementales (ONG) congolaises et internationales appellent aujourd'hui le gouvernement de la RDC à rompre le silence sur cette renégociation des contrats miniers. Le gouvernement n’a fourni aucun calendrier ni critère précis concernant les négociations avec les sociétés minières. Le contenu et la publication des termes de référence, promis par le Vice-Ministre des Mines aux compagnies minières privées, demeurent nébuleux.
"La phase finale de la revisitation des contrats miniers a commencé il y a quatre mois et la société civile est tenue complètement dans l'ignorance de ce qui se passe", a déclaré Jean-Claude Katende, Président de l’organisation congolaise des droits de l'homme ASADHO. « Le gouvernement de la RDC a le devoir d'expliquer au Parlement ce qui se passe étant donné l'importance cruciale des négociations pour la vie et les aspirations du peuple congolais. »
Le manque d’informations actuel contraste avec les déclarations publiques émises presque quotidiennes de Victor Kasongo, le Vice-Ministre des Mines, lors de la Conférence minière qui s’est tenue au Cap en février dernier. Les choses ont été beaucoup plus calmes depuis le mois de mars lorsque le Ministère des Mines a annoncé que les négociations avec les sociétés minières seraient dirigées par une « task force » composée de ministres hauts placés du gouvernement. Les doutes sur l'indépendance et l'efficacité du processus se sont intensifiés à la suite de nouvelles selon lesquelles le gouvernement de la RDC aurait refusé toute offre d'assistance internationale et aurait renoncé aux propositions visant à mettre sur pied un groupe d'experts techniques et juridiques chargé de conseiller la task force.
« Tout le monde n’est pas sur un même pied d’égalité. Le gouvernement de la RDC tente de bloquer certains nouveaux contrats mais en appuie d’autres qui concernent de grandes concessions minières, comme le rachat de la mine de Kamoto par Nikanor », a déclaré Patricia Feeney, la directrice exécutive de RAID.
Dan Gertler, qui continue de renforcer l’emprise de ses compagnies sur les ressources clés du Katanga, à savoir le cuivre et le cobalt, a annoncé un accord de principe sur l’acquisition d’une participation de 25 pour cent dans Anvil Mining Limited.
Des groupes de la société civile congolaise et internationale font campagne depuis longtemps pour une renégociation équitable et complète des contrats miniers. En mars 2008, les ONG ont salué la publication du rapport de la Commission mais ont fait part de leur mécontentement face aux retards, aux procédures confuses et au black-out médiatique qui ont sapé la confiance du public dans la renégociation. Plus récemment, la Conférence épiscopale nationale du Congo (Cenco) a publiquement réaffirmé qu’elle était disposée à prendre part à la Commission de renégociation ad hoc du gouvernement.
« Dans un esprit d'équité et de responsabilité publique, le transfert des droits miniers devrait être reporté jusqu'à la conclusion du processus d’examen et de renégociation », a souligné Gavin Hayman, le Directeur de campagne de Global Witness. « Comment les Congolais savent-ils qu’ils auront un bon accord ? »
Les ONG ont exhorté le gouvernement congolais à :
- Expliquer l’évolution des négociations et comment les préoccupations d’intérêt public sont rencontrées ;
- Publier tous les contrats renégociés ;
- Confirmer les contrats qui sont annulés à la suite du processus d’examen et expliquer quand et comment l'annulation entre en vigueur ;
- Faire des efforts supplémentaires pour connaître le point de vue de la société civile et celui des populations locales touchées par des contrats spécifiques dans le cadre du processus de renégociation, compte tenu de leur participation insuffisante au processus d'examen.
- Faciliter la création d'un organe ad hoc indépendant, composé de représentants de la société civile suffisamment qualifiés, d’avocats indépendants et autres personnes, qui contrôlerait le processus de renégociation et présenterait ouvertement son point de vue et ses recommandations au gouvernement.
Les ONG ont appelé les gouvernements bailleurs de fonds et les organisations intergouvernementales à:
- Insister auprès du gouvernement de la RDC pour rendre publiques les informations sur le processus de renégociation.
- Inciter les sociétés minières à clarifier les nouveaux termes qui ont été convenus.
Signataires :
11.11.11
ACIDH
ASADHO
Broederlijk Delen
Bukavu Sud Kivu La Commission Environnement, Gouvernance des Ressources Naturelles et Droits des Peuples Autochtones/ Bureau de Coordination de la Société Civile du Sud Kivu
CENADEP Antenne du Kivu
CENADEP
CODELT
Fatal Transactions
Global Witness
Héritiers de la Justice
NDS
OCEAN
Réseau CREF
Rights and Accountability in Development
Reseau Ressources Naturelles
Pour de plus amples informations, veuillez contacter :
Jean Claude Katenge, ASADHO +243 997 032 984
Ruth Beeckmans, Broederlijk Delen +32 486 799 626
Lizzie Parsons, Global Witness +44 207 561 6365
Tricia Feeney, RAID +44 1865 515 982 and +44 779 617 8447
Notes aux éditeurs
Le 20 avril 2007, une commission interministérielle a été créée pour « examiner les contrats de partenariat et leur impact sur le recouvrement de ces entreprises et le développement national, et pour proposer, le cas échéant, les modalités de leur révision en vue de corriger les déséquilibres et les défauts. »
La Commission a examiné plus de 60 contrats miniers signés entre des entreprises privées et l'État ou des entreprises d'État. La Commission a clôturé son rapport en octobre 2007. Après un retard de plusieurs mois, le gouvernement a posté le rapport de la commission de révision des contrats miniers sur le site du Ministère des Mines en mars 2008: http://www.miningcongo.cd. Le gouvernement a également publié quelques lettres qu'il a adressées à des entreprises présentant les conclusions de l'examen relatif à leurs contrats.
Pour tout renseignement complémentaire, veuillez consulter :
- Conférence Épiscopale Nationale du Congo, « Appel à la vigilance pour sauvegarder la souveraineté et bâtir notre destinée », 10 juillet 2008
http://forumrdc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=387&Itemid=2
- ONG communiqué de presse, « Accueil favorable à la publication du rapport de revisitation des contrats miniers congolais; les renégociations se doivent d’être équitables et transparentes », 25 mars 2008.
http://forumrdc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=317&Itemid=2
- Communiqué de presse du gouvernement congolais : « DRC Ministry of Mines publishes full report of the Mining Contracts Revisitation Commission », 20 mars 2008.
- Communiqué de presse du gouvernement congolais : « Publication date announced for revisitation commission report on DRC’s mining contracts », 18 mars 2008.
- Communiqué de presse d’ONG : « L’examen des contrats miniers en RDC : filière rapide ou fausse piste ? Le gouvernement congolais doit clarifier le processus d’examen afin de restaurer la confiance », 18 février 2008.
http://forumrdc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=253&Itemid=2
- Communiqué de presse d’ONG : « Les ONG s’inquiètent du « détournement » dont fait l’objet le processus d’examen des contrats miniers en RDC », 4 février 2008.
www.globalwitness.org/media_library_detail.php/626/fr/les_ong_sinquietent_
- Communiqué de presse d’ONG : « Appel international pour la publication du rapport final de la Commission ministérielle chargée de la revisitation des contrats miniers en RDC », 7 novembre 2007.
www.globalwitness.org/media_library_detail.php/596/fr/appel_international
- Rapport de Global Witness : « Le secteur minier congolais à la croisée des chemins », 1er octobre 2007.
www.globalwitness.org/media_library_detail.php/576/fr/le_secteur_minier_congo
- « Rapport du groupe d’experts du Forum de la Société Civile sur 12 contrats miniers », août 2007.
http://forumrdc.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=45&Itemid=38
- Rights and Accountability in Development : « Key mining contracts in Katanga: the economic argument for renegotiation » (Principaux contrats miniers au Katanga : l’argument économique en faveur d’une renégociation), avril 2007.
www.raid-uk.org/docs/DRC_contracts/Economic_Argument_for_Renegotiation.pdf
Monday, August 4, 2008
Scant Information and Wheeler-Dealing Undermine Congolese Contract Review
For immediate release
4 August 2008
Scant Information and Wheeler-Dealing Undermine Congolese Contract Review
On the eve of the start of the promised renegotiation of mining contracts in DR Congo, Congolese and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) today called on the DRC government to shed light on the renegotiations of mining contracts. No clear time-frame or criteria for the negotiations with mining companies have been forthcoming from the Government’s side. In particular, the contents and publication of the terms of reference, as promised to private mining companies by the Vice Minister of Mines, remain obscure.
“We’re four months into the final phase of the mining review and civil society is being kept in the dark about exactly what’s going on”, said Jean-Claude Katende, President of the Congolese human rights organisation ASADHO. “The DRC Government has a duty to fully explain to parliament what’s happening given the critical importance of the negotiations to the lives and aspirations of the Congolese people.”
The current lack of information contrasts with the almost daily public pronouncements by Victor Kasongo, the Vice Minister of Mines, during the Mining Indaba at Cape Town last February. Things have gone much quieter since March when the Ministry of Mines announced that the negotiations with mining companies would be guided by a high-level ‘task force’ composed of senior government ministers. Growing doubts about the independence and efficiency of the process have intensified amid reports that the DRC Government has refused all offers of international assistance and dropped proposals to set up a group of technical and legal experts to advise the task force.
“There’s no level playing field. The DRC Government attempts to block some new deals but to nod through others involving major mining concessions like Nikanor’s take-over of the Kamoto mine,” said Patricia Feeney, RAID’s Executive Director.
Dan Gertler, who continues to consolidate his companies’ hold over key copper and cobalt resources in Katanga, has announced an agreement in principal to acquire a 25 per cent stake in Anvil Mining Limited.
Congolese and international civil society groups have long campaigned for a fair and comprehensive review of mining contracts. In March 2008, NGOs welcomed the publication of the commission’s report but expressed dissatisfaction with the delays, confused procedures and news blackout which have eroded public confidence in the renegotiations. Most recently, the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) maintained their readiness to take part in the government’s ad hoc renegotiation Commission.
“In the spirit of fairness and public accountability, the transfer of mining rights should be postponed until the review and renegotiation process has been concluded”, said Gavin Hayman, Campaigns Director at Global Witness. “How do Congolese citizens know they’re getting a good deal?”
The NGOs urged the DRC government to:
- Explain the status of negotiations and how the public interest concerns are being addressed,
- Publish all the renegotiated contracts,
- Confirm which contracts are cancelled following the review process and when and how the cancellation comes into effect,
- Make additional efforts to seek out the views of civil society and those of local populations affected by specific contracts, as part of the renegotiation process, given their insufficient involvement in the review process,
- Facilitate the creation of a separate ad-hoc independent body, made up of suitably- qualified civil society representatives, independent lawyers and others, which would monitor the renegotiation process and submit open views and recommendations to the government.
The NGOs appealed to donor governments and inter-governmental organisations to:
- Urge the DRC government to make public information about the renegotiation process.
- Urge mining companies to clarify the new terms that have been agreed.
Signatories:
11.11.11
ACIDH
ASADHO
Broederlijk Delen
Bukavu Sud Kivu La Commission Environnement, Gouvernance des Ressources Naturelles et Droits des Peuples Autochtones/ Bureau de Coordination de la Société Civile du Sud Kivu
CENADEP Antenne du Kivu
CENADEP
CODELT
Fatal Transactions
Global Witness
Héritiers de la Justice
NDS
OCEAN
Réseau CREF
Rights and Accountability in Development
Reseau Ressources Naturelles
For further information, please contact:
In DRC : Jean Claude Katenge, ASADHO +243 997 032 984
In Belgium: Ruth Beeckmans, Broederlijk Delen +32 486 799 626
In UK : Lizzie Parsons, Global Witness +44 207 561 6365
In UK: Tricia Feeney, RAID +44 1865 515 982 and +44 779 617 8447
Notes for editors
On 20 April 2007, an inter-ministerial commission was set up to “examine partnership contracts and their impact on the recovery of these companies and national development, to propose, if necessary, modalities for their revision with a view to correcting any imbalances and related faults.”
The commission reviewed more than 60 mining contracts signed between private companies and the state or state-owned enterprises. The commission completed its report in October 2007. After a delay of several months, the government posted the report of the commission’s review of mining contracts on the website of the Ministry of Mines in March 2008: http://www.miningcongo.cd/. The government also published some of the letters it had sent to companies outlining the findings of the review on their particular contracts.
For further information, please see:
- National Episcopal Conference of Congo, ‘Call for vigilance to safeguard national sovereignty and build our destiny’ (in French), 10 July 2008
http://forumrdc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=387&Itemid=2
- A Fair Share, www.11.be/fairshare, www.11.be/partequitable
- NGO press release, “Publication of Congo mining contract review welcome”, 25 March 2008.
http://www.globalwitness.org/media_library_detail.php/634/en/publication_of_congo
- DRC Government press release, “DRC Ministry of Mines publishes full report of the Mining Contracts Revisitation Commission”, 20 March 2008.
- DRC Government press release, “Publication date announced for revisitation commission report on DRC’s mining contracts”, 18 March 2008.
- NGO press release, “Congo mining contract review: fast track or false trail?”, 18 February 2008. www.globalwitness.org/media_library_detail.php/629/en/congo_mining_contract
- NGO press release, “NGOs fear that DRC mining contract review process has been hijacked”, 4 February 2008.
www.globalwitness.org/media_library_detail.php/626/en/ngos_fear
- NGO press release, “International appeal for the publication of the final report of the ministerial commission on the review of mining contracts in the DRC”, 7 November 2007. www.globalwitness.org/media_library_detail.php/596/en/international_appeal
- Global Witness report, “The Congolese mining sector in the balance”, 1 October 2007.
www.globalwitness.org/media_library_detail.php/576/en/the_congolese_mining
- “Rapport du groupe d’experts du Forum de la Société Civile sur 12 contrats miniers”, August 2007.
forumrdc.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=45&Itemid=38
- Rights and Accountability in Development: “Key mining contracts in Katanga: the economic argument for renegotiation”, April 2007.
www.raid-uk.org/docs/DRC_contracts/Economic_Argument_for_Renegotiation.pdf
4 August 2008
Scant Information and Wheeler-Dealing Undermine Congolese Contract Review
On the eve of the start of the promised renegotiation of mining contracts in DR Congo, Congolese and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) today called on the DRC government to shed light on the renegotiations of mining contracts. No clear time-frame or criteria for the negotiations with mining companies have been forthcoming from the Government’s side. In particular, the contents and publication of the terms of reference, as promised to private mining companies by the Vice Minister of Mines, remain obscure.
“We’re four months into the final phase of the mining review and civil society is being kept in the dark about exactly what’s going on”, said Jean-Claude Katende, President of the Congolese human rights organisation ASADHO. “The DRC Government has a duty to fully explain to parliament what’s happening given the critical importance of the negotiations to the lives and aspirations of the Congolese people.”
The current lack of information contrasts with the almost daily public pronouncements by Victor Kasongo, the Vice Minister of Mines, during the Mining Indaba at Cape Town last February. Things have gone much quieter since March when the Ministry of Mines announced that the negotiations with mining companies would be guided by a high-level ‘task force’ composed of senior government ministers. Growing doubts about the independence and efficiency of the process have intensified amid reports that the DRC Government has refused all offers of international assistance and dropped proposals to set up a group of technical and legal experts to advise the task force.
“There’s no level playing field. The DRC Government attempts to block some new deals but to nod through others involving major mining concessions like Nikanor’s take-over of the Kamoto mine,” said Patricia Feeney, RAID’s Executive Director.
Dan Gertler, who continues to consolidate his companies’ hold over key copper and cobalt resources in Katanga, has announced an agreement in principal to acquire a 25 per cent stake in Anvil Mining Limited.
Congolese and international civil society groups have long campaigned for a fair and comprehensive review of mining contracts. In March 2008, NGOs welcomed the publication of the commission’s report but expressed dissatisfaction with the delays, confused procedures and news blackout which have eroded public confidence in the renegotiations. Most recently, the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) maintained their readiness to take part in the government’s ad hoc renegotiation Commission.
“In the spirit of fairness and public accountability, the transfer of mining rights should be postponed until the review and renegotiation process has been concluded”, said Gavin Hayman, Campaigns Director at Global Witness. “How do Congolese citizens know they’re getting a good deal?”
The NGOs urged the DRC government to:
- Explain the status of negotiations and how the public interest concerns are being addressed,
- Publish all the renegotiated contracts,
- Confirm which contracts are cancelled following the review process and when and how the cancellation comes into effect,
- Make additional efforts to seek out the views of civil society and those of local populations affected by specific contracts, as part of the renegotiation process, given their insufficient involvement in the review process,
- Facilitate the creation of a separate ad-hoc independent body, made up of suitably- qualified civil society representatives, independent lawyers and others, which would monitor the renegotiation process and submit open views and recommendations to the government.
The NGOs appealed to donor governments and inter-governmental organisations to:
- Urge the DRC government to make public information about the renegotiation process.
- Urge mining companies to clarify the new terms that have been agreed.
Signatories:
11.11.11
ACIDH
ASADHO
Broederlijk Delen
Bukavu Sud Kivu La Commission Environnement, Gouvernance des Ressources Naturelles et Droits des Peuples Autochtones/ Bureau de Coordination de la Société Civile du Sud Kivu
CENADEP Antenne du Kivu
CENADEP
CODELT
Fatal Transactions
Global Witness
Héritiers de la Justice
NDS
OCEAN
Réseau CREF
Rights and Accountability in Development
Reseau Ressources Naturelles
For further information, please contact:
In DRC : Jean Claude Katenge, ASADHO +243 997 032 984
In Belgium: Ruth Beeckmans, Broederlijk Delen +32 486 799 626
In UK : Lizzie Parsons, Global Witness +44 207 561 6365
In UK: Tricia Feeney, RAID +44 1865 515 982 and +44 779 617 8447
Notes for editors
On 20 April 2007, an inter-ministerial commission was set up to “examine partnership contracts and their impact on the recovery of these companies and national development, to propose, if necessary, modalities for their revision with a view to correcting any imbalances and related faults.”
The commission reviewed more than 60 mining contracts signed between private companies and the state or state-owned enterprises. The commission completed its report in October 2007. After a delay of several months, the government posted the report of the commission’s review of mining contracts on the website of the Ministry of Mines in March 2008: http://www.miningcongo.cd/. The government also published some of the letters it had sent to companies outlining the findings of the review on their particular contracts.
For further information, please see:
- National Episcopal Conference of Congo, ‘Call for vigilance to safeguard national sovereignty and build our destiny’ (in French), 10 July 2008
http://forumrdc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=387&Itemid=2
- A Fair Share, www.11.be/fairshare, www.11.be/partequitable
- NGO press release, “Publication of Congo mining contract review welcome”, 25 March 2008.
http://www.globalwitness.org/media_library_detail.php/634/en/publication_of_congo
- DRC Government press release, “DRC Ministry of Mines publishes full report of the Mining Contracts Revisitation Commission”, 20 March 2008.
- DRC Government press release, “Publication date announced for revisitation commission report on DRC’s mining contracts”, 18 March 2008.
- NGO press release, “Congo mining contract review: fast track or false trail?”, 18 February 2008. www.globalwitness.org/media_library_detail.php/629/en/congo_mining_contract
- NGO press release, “NGOs fear that DRC mining contract review process has been hijacked”, 4 February 2008.
www.globalwitness.org/media_library_detail.php/626/en/ngos_fear
- NGO press release, “International appeal for the publication of the final report of the ministerial commission on the review of mining contracts in the DRC”, 7 November 2007. www.globalwitness.org/media_library_detail.php/596/en/international_appeal
- Global Witness report, “The Congolese mining sector in the balance”, 1 October 2007.
www.globalwitness.org/media_library_detail.php/576/en/the_congolese_mining
- “Rapport du groupe d’experts du Forum de la Société Civile sur 12 contrats miniers”, August 2007.
forumrdc.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=45&Itemid=38
- Rights and Accountability in Development: “Key mining contracts in Katanga: the economic argument for renegotiation”, April 2007.
www.raid-uk.org/docs/DRC_contracts/Economic_Argument_for_Renegotiation.pdf
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