In November 2013, a report, known as “the Simon Nyandu Report” after the nation’s Attorney General, was completed but never officially released. The DRC government attempted to suppress it, but it was leaked. The investigators concluded 11 companies illegally avoided $741 million in taxes and fines often with the collusion of local customs officials. After just 10 days, the Nyandu commission was ordered to stop its investigation and return to Kinshasa without completing its work.

This is where things stand today. No action has been undertaken by the regime to attempt to recover the $3.7 billion in unpaid duties and fines which represent almost half of the annual national DRC budget of 9 billion for fiscal year 2014). Read the full report