72 business | companies & markets

Timber Guns, bribes and chainsaws The lumber trade in the DRC’s Nord-Kivu Province is plagued by rebel kidnappings, while meddling soldiers and government officials add to the disorder

t a busy outdoor lot near estimated that the forestry sector the centre of Goma, the contributed just 1% to the DRC’s A ground is covered with GDP in 2007, in contrast to much sawdust. Planks of wood are smaller countries like the Re- stacked in haphazardly placed public of Congo, Cameroon and piles. The space is messy, in- Gabon, where timber exports formal and frenetic, but every accounted for 5.6%, 6% and 4% businessman there knows his of GDP, respectively. A more re- way around the muddy paths, cent report from London-based the stacks of timber, the tiny campaign group Global Witness wooden sheds. Across this found that in 2014 total wood ex- bustling town, there are plenty ports – more than half of which of smaller shops selling wood. went to China – amounted to They get their wares here, at this 112,675tn, with a value of $195m. hub for timber exploiters in the Across the country, non- capital of the Democratic Re- governmental organisations public of Congo’s (DRC) eastern and activists accuse large for- based in the DRC but is presided Nord-Kivu region. eign companies that operate over by an American citizen; and A light drizzle turns to heavy massive concessions – and the Sodefor, also based in the DRC rain, sending everyone scram- government officials who work but run by a Portuguese family. bling for cover amid the sweet with them – of flagrant profiteer- In Nord-Kivu, concessions smell of dusty planks. E.B.*, 47, ing. Today, the companies with tend to be small. Bursting as settles into his own shed on the the largest concessions include: they are with biodiversity, these edge of the lot and sighs about Cotrefor, a Lebanese-owned forests could be places where the sorry state of the timber in- company; Siforco, whose parent the DRC’s abundant resources dustry. “I’ve been working with company, the Blattner Group, is are put to good use. Instead, the wood since 2002, and business used to be good,” he says. “Today, Top 10 DRC timber importers it’s not. Why? Because when you Tonnes of timber imported from the DRC between January 2013 and December 2015 go to bring your timber in from the forest, you’re going to face China France lots of harassment.” 185,572.28 56,873.92 informal concessions Though forests cover two-thirds of the DRC’s land, timber con- tributes relatively little to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). The true value of tim- Portugal Depublic ber exploitation is unknown, 19,130.48 of Congo partly due to the informality of 14,908.86 granting concessions – an in- formality that persists despite 14 years of efforts to regulate Viet Nam Namibia Belgium WitneSS the industry – and partly due to 10,868.39 5,306.17 6,240.74

a general lack of reliable data. A Global 2011 report from the Center for Taiwan India UAE International Forestry Research 7,917.29 3,952.49 2,641.78 Source:

the africa report • n° 78 • march 2016 business 73

for several attacks over the past few years, calling the group a ter- rorist organisation with links to Islamist groups around the world. In January 2014, the national armed forces, the Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC), launched the Sukola I operation to fight against the ADF militants. General Mar- cel Mbangu, who leads the op- eration, estimates that the ADF now has fewer than 200 mem- bers. But, he added, their guer- rilla tactics make them difficult enemies. “The ADF is acting on the soil of the DRC, but it must have links outside,” says Gen- eral Mbangu. “So it needs the cooperation of everyone – all of the international community – to try and eradicate it.”

exaggerated reports Some accuse the government

aNos-REa of overstating the ADF’s reach for political reasons. Insecurity,

NIssEN/P after all, has often served as a distraction from the governance Mads The softer issues that trouble this vast coun- double threat of instability and cials that you’ve paid the tax. But and poorer try. Several government critics corruption continues to choke they’ll still make you pay again.” quality and political analysts suggest businesses – and with it, hopes When it comes to natural re- timber is that other groups – including for peace and stability. Militant sources, the DRC is well known sold locally, the FDLR, local Mai-Mai fight- groups in Nord-Kivu are part of for its mineral wealth – and for while the ers and even individuals settling the problem, but so too are the the corruption and violence that best the personal scores – have been be- corrupt dealings of government plague extraction operations. DRC’s vast hind acts of violence that were bureaucrats and army officials. Walikale territory, where E.B.’s forests blamed on ADF. E.B. operates a 100ha conces- timber concession is located, is can yield Even the army has been im- sion in Walikale territory, about also rich in gold and tin, which is shipped plicated in foul play. In October a two-day drive from Goma. His have attracted the attention of off to China 2015, a report from the United workers, numbering up to ten at several armed groups. and other Nations Group of Experts – which a time, fell trees like eucalyptus The militias perpetrating importers focused primarily on militants’ and white nongo, which he re- violence over the years have activities – devoted a section trieves in a truck and then sells included the Congrès National to the corrupt practices of the to buyers in Goma. He is unsure pour la Défense du Peuple, the FARDC. “During multiple mis- of his profit margins because Forces Démocratiques de Libéra- sions in May, June and July 2015, he lives hand to mouth, always tion du Rwanda (FDLR), and the Group found that FARDC of- working to keep his children smaller, community-based ficers deployed for the Sukola I schooled and fed. groups. Murky connections to military operations against ADF army officials seem to have al- were involved in the exploitation taxed and taxed again lowed these militants to commit and sale of timber in Beni territ- “When you take wood from the atrocities – including one 2010 ory,” notes the report, referring bush, you’ll hit a road crossing attack that resulted in the rape to an area north of Goma. and there might be rebels and of at least 179 women – without It adds that at a market on the they’ll charge $5 to pass. You much fear of capture. border with Uganda, multiple don’t have any choice,” E.B. ex- Today, the most talked-about buyers said they had purchased plains. “Then you reach a place militant group in Nord-Kivu is the the wood directly from FARDC under government control. They Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), officers. Some soldiers reported charge, too. Sometimes they give an Islamist outfit with Ugandan that they had been given the op- you a receipt so that when you roots. Army and government of- tion to harvest timber instead arrive home you can show offi- ficials say the ADF is responsible of going to battle.

the africa report • n° 78 • march 2016