UN Report Accuses Three Kenyans of Being Involved in DR Congo Gold Scam
The latest report of the United Nations (UN) team of experts monitoring arms and mineral-trade sanctions against rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have revealed that three Kenyans, whose network is based in Nairobi, are involved in smuggling large quantities of gold from DRC.
According to the UN report, the Kenyans also brokered counterfeit gold in Nairobi.
Transactions of both real and fake gold serve as a key source of financing for groups in DRC, including criminal elements in the Congolese army that are responsible for millions of civilian deaths in recent years.
Kenya recorded no official imports of gold from the DRC in 2010 and 2011, notes the six-member UN panel, which includes a Kenyan arms expert, Nelson Alusala.
A Kenyan national is said to have played an integral role in illegal gold deals.
The panel of experts examines in particular the sale of 2.5 tons of gold extracted from mines in Walikale in DRC, smuggled to Nairobi and then sold in Thailand.
Citing “several gold smugglers” as its sources, the UN panel says the 2.5 tons of gold was traded in Nairobi by Jean Claude Mundeke Kabamba, alias “Dako,” a Congolese who pretends to be affiliated with the DRC military.
Source African Press Agency
African News from NetNewsPublisher.com
Category: Africa
