Free Fair DRC

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Since our launch in September last year, FreeFair DRC relentlessly strived to focus international attention on the November 2011 elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). As the elections unfolded amid violence, claims of fraud and severe mismanagement, FreeFair DRC continued to monitor the situation on the ground. Once the results were announced that the incumbent Joseph Kabila had secured five more years of presidency, we awaited the response of the international and domestic elections observers that were scattered throughout the country.

FreeFair DRC echoed the widespread criticism of the general mismanagement of the election process, with institutions such as the US State Department labelling them as “seriously flawed.” It is now four months since the highly questionable elections took place, and the DRC is preparing to install its new National Assembly, with the Opposition threatening to boycott the parliament.

In light of the current situation, FreeFair DRC would like to announce a change in focus. As the election results have been released and reluctantly accepted by the international community, we will be turning our attention to promoting transparency, holding this government accountable for the decisions it makes, and try to ensure a fair future for the Congolese people.

During the campaign period for the DRC elections, documents were released by UK Member of Parliament Eric Joyce that appeared to show a systematic pattern of underselling Congolese mining assets to off-shore ‘shell’ companies to a tune of an estimated US$5.5 billion. If these accusations are true, and the evidence strongly suggests they are, it means that the Congolese people have missed out on greatly needed funds to promote health, education, and poverty reduction programs.

Therefore, as part of FreeFair DRC's new agenda of promoting transparency and governmental accountability, we are appealing for any information or documentation of potential fraud, misappropriation of revenue, or questionable business dealings that may have detrimentally affected the Congolese people. All information and documents will be able to be lodged anonymously through the FreeFair DRC website. All the information we receive will be investigated by an independent third party and subsequently published if found to be verifiably true.

The DRC must be compelled to adhere to its International Monetary Fund obligations. Since the loan of US $551.45 million, mining contracts have not been published, and deals worth a total of (at least) US $5.5 billion have been concluded with no public tender. To ensure that the Congolese people receive the full benefits of their nation’s vast mineral wealth, these mining deals must be publically disclosed.