CORAC Statement: Urging International NGOs to Respect DRC's Sovereignty and Trust in Its Institutions During Critical Election Period

Kinshasa, DRC, 19 December 2023_ - The Coalition for the Recovery of Mining, Oil and Forestry Assets of the Congolese People (CORAC) calls upon international partners and NGOs to adopt a discourse that respects and supports the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) efforts to establish a sovereign and independent natural resource sector. This call comes at a pivotal time, with national elections approaching and amidst increasing violence in the eastern region of the country.

In response to a recent statement issued by the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF), a European-based organisation, CORAC emphasises the need to move away from rhetoric that negatively impacts the DRC’s judiciary, democratic institutions, and natural resource policies. PPLAAF's statement, released from Paris on December 14, includes points that CORAC believes are detrimental to the DRC’s progress and sovereignty:

Questioning the Congolese Judiciary: PPLAAF's characterisation of a Congolese court decision as a "sham trial" without substantial evidence undermines the integrity of the DRC's legal system. Such statements can erode trust in our judicial processes.

Interlinking Judicial Decisions and Government Policies: PPLAAF uses the legal judgements against the whistleblowers to attack DRC Government’s request to the U.S. authorities for the lifting of sanctions against Dan Gertler, which would enable the country to monetise the value of assets it received from the historic Settlement Agreement with the businessman. This implies a lack of separation between the judicial process and the legal system in the DRC and undermines the decision made by the DRC Government, which enjoys the backing of a significant portion of the DRC's civil society.

Portraying DRC as Incapable of Independent Decision-Making: The portrayal of the DRC as a nation unable to manage its own natural resources sector is both inaccurate and disrespectful. It disregards the perspectives and aspirations of the Congolese people.

CORAC believes that such statements, particularly during a turbulent period for the country, can jeopardise the international reputation of the DRC and threaten the resilience of its institutions. We urge all international NGOs involved in the DRC’s political landscape to recognise and support the country’s trajectory towards growth, development, political stability, and security.

CORAC represents a collective of national NGOs in the DRC, united in their commitment to ensuring that the country’s natural resources are managed ethically, sustainably, and lawfully, for the benefit of all Congolese communities.