Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
Section Articles 1-20 of 29
Acquittal of Congolese Soldiers and Canadian Mining Employee in War Crimes Trial Criticized - July 20, 2007
This statement from Congolese and international NGOs brings attention to the trial and acquittal of nine Congolese soldiers for war crimes, and three employees of Anvil Mining for complicity in war crimes in relation to the deaths of at least 73 civilians in Kilwa, DRC in October 2004. It was the first time in the DRC that foreign employees of a multinational company – including one Canadian – have been charged with complicity in war crimes. Citing obstructions, irregularities, and political interference, NGO observers claim the trial failed to conform to international legal standards. Included is a link to the full report.
Response from EDC - September 10, 2007
This letter responds to concerns about EDC's potential support the Tenek Fungurume mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Impoverishing a Continent: The World Bank and the IMF in Africa (July 2004)
The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are the two most powerful institutions in global trade and finance. Since 1980, the United States government which dominates both bodies has used them to economically subjugate the developing world. The World Bank and the IMF have forced Third World countries to open their economies to Western penetration and increase exports of primary goods to wealthy nations. These steps amongst others have multiplied profits for Western multinational corporations while subjecting Third World countries to horrendous levels of poverty, unemployment, malnutrition, illiteracy and economic decline. The region worst affected has been Africa.
Press Responses: Friday, July 30, 2004
Corruption: Canada backs firm banned by World Bank
World Bank Press Release: Friday, July 23, 2004
World Bank Sanctions Acres International Limited
Press Responses: Saturday, 27 March, 2004
Martin's problem: Corruption at home and abroad (Acres International in Lesotho)
Groups Fear Canadian Funding for Romanian Mine
Ottawa, Canada, Nov 16 (IPS) - The World Bank's refusal to help fund a Canadian company's controversial development of a huge open pit gold mine in Romania has raised concerns the Canadian government will step in with money.
Brief to MPs regarding privatization tour
While in Ottawa, Richard Mokolo from South Africa and Sylvester Ejiofoh from Nigeria, met with some Members of Parliament to discuss the situation in Africa. This brief is a follow-up to the lively discussion.
"Race to the Bottom, Take II" (September 2003)
This report critiques Revision 6 of the OECD Common Approaches on environment and export credits, and documents nine projects (including the Cernavoda2 nuclear power plant and the Three Gorges dam) which have had devastating environmental, social and human rights impacts, and which have all received (or will soon recieve) funding by Export Credit Agencies, including Canada's EDC. The report argues that the Common Approaches did little to mitigate the devastating social, environmental and human rights impacts of ECA-funded projects.
EDC response re Corruption and Acres - October 31, 2003
This letter responds to a request for EDC to clarify its position on corruption in light of the Acres conviction. While EDC was not involved in Lesotho, the letter states that the crown corp has reviewed past transactions with Acres, and is confident that the measures Acres has put in place since will ensure that future business with Acres is not tainted by corruption. It outlines further what EDC has done to remedy the problem of corruption, but it makes no clear indication that companies that have been criminally charged with corruption will face any further sanctions. This is in direct contrast with the World Bank process and even the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act.
Letter to EDC President re Corruption - August 21, 2003
This letter to EDC President Ian Gillespie asks the Crown Corporation to clarify its position on bribery and convicted companies. Acres International recently lost its appeal against the charges of corruption surrounding the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Acres is a repeat customer at EDC.
Letter to World Bank President re: corruption
August 21, 2003
African Adventure: the Lesotho Water Highlands Project
This article is featured in the Canadian Business Journal.
Acres loses appeal on bribery charge in Lesotho - August 18, 2003
A Canadian company, Acres International, has lost its appeal regarding a bribery conviction on a World Bank project (Globe & Mail).
Letter to WB President on Ghana - July 7, 2003
This letter raises concerns about Bank support for five companies seeking mining permits in Ghana's forest reserves. The Bank has invested a great deal in promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource management projects in Ghana. Support of the Ghanaian mining industry sits at cross purposes to this.
"Damming Evidence - Canada and the World Commission on Dams" (June 2003)
The Report asks why Canada, which has a record of financing large dam projects through EDC and CIDA, chose to give $100,000 to support the World Commission on Dams, but has failed to implement its recommendations. The report gives a brief overview of the WCD recommendations, and compares them with EDC and CIDA's policies with regards to the environment.
Letter to Terrie O'Leary, Executive Director for Canada, World Bank
First, on behalf of the Halifax Initiative Coalition and our international allies, thank-you very much for meeting with us, following the Spring meetings. We appreciate every opportunity to exchange views on issues with you.
Open Letter to Mr. Wolfensohn (1998)
Washington, D.C. 20433 Dear Mr. Wolfensohn, The 86 undersigned environment, development, human rights and religious organizations from 28 countries call upon you to suspend World Bank participation in the Chad/Cameroon Oil & Pipeline project until respect for human rights and compliance with World Bank environmental and other policies can be fully guaranteed.We are writing to draw your attention to the especially troublesome situation, including the severe violation of human rights, in southern Chad and to the inadequacy of the environmental impact assessment and environmental management plan for the project submitted to the Bank by Exxon.
The Chad-Cameroon Petroleum
An international consortium consisting of Exxon, Shell and Elf, a French company, is sponsoring the project. The project includes the drilling of 300 wells in the Doba oilfields of southern Chad, the construction of a 1050 km long, 30 m wide buried pipeline through to an offshore marine export terminal facility 15 km off the coast of Cameroon.
