The Congo Tribunal

Keywords

Sominki

2.3

"It was a Machiavellian manipulation."

Serge Lammens (witness, Berlin) was the administrative director of Somniki, the Belgian mining company that was taken over by BANRO in 1996. He reported that BANRO laid off all 6000 local workers only a few months after they took over of the company.

witness Berlin Banro Sominki Mobutu civil war speculation corruption DR Congo government

2.5

"BANRO has "impunity "for the entire duration of the mine project."

Raf Custers (expert, Berlin) is a Belgian historian and journalist. In his book “Chasseurs de matières premières” he highlights the history of the Canadian mining company BANRO in South Kivu and the role of the World Bank in the revision of the mining contracts after the Second Congo War.

witness Berlin mining contracts civil war Kabila World Bank Banro Sominki mining mandate German Government US Government

6.5

"The measures to improve mining have ultimately led to fraud."

Zacharie Bulakali (expert) is an expert in artisanal and industrial mining in the DR Congo. He acts as a liaison officer between the local civil society organizations and the Congolese mining authorities. He heads various research projects in the Great Lakes region.

expert Belgium Mobutu Rwanda Sominki artisanal mining Dodd-Frank Act traceability commodity certification Banro Mai-Mai Rebels