Congo ex-prime minister convicted of embezzlement in huge failed farm project
(Reuters) -A Congolese former prime minister was convicted of embezzling millions from a huge failed agriculture venture, in one of the highest-profile corruption cases brought under President Felix Tshisekedi against the government of his predecessor.
Matata Ponyo Mapon, who served as prime minister from 2012-2016 under then-President Joseph Kabila, was convicted on Tuesday in a case involving the embezzlement of $245 million. He was sentenced to 10 years forced labour, the Constitutional Court said.
Deogratias Mutombo, former governor of Congo's central bank, was sentenced to five years of forced labour in the case, as was Christo Grobler, a South African businessman, the court said.
None of the three is in custody and all were tried in absentia. Ponyo's lawyer, Laurent Onyemba, told Reuters Ponyo is in Kinshasa, and the case against him was unfair and politically motivated. Congolese authorities believe Grobler is in South Africa and Mutombo is in Belgium.
The development, which included a giant corn farm 260 km southeast of Kinshasa, was touted as the first of 22 huge agricultural projects to be opened under Kabila, but collapsed in 2017 three years after production began. The South African company hired to run it left the country, saying it had not been paid by the government.
The case was opened in 2021 after investigators appointed by Tshisekedi began digging into the conduct of the previous government.
Kabila, who agreed to step down in 2018 after almost two decades in power, has been out of the country since late 2023, mostly in South Africa. Tshisikedi's government has accused him of links to the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels that have captured territory in eastern Congo, which his party denies.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
43 minutes ago
- Business Insider
US gives conditions for Rwanda-DR Congo peace deal
The United States has set forth critical conditions for facilitating a peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with a key demand being the complete withdrawal of Rwandan troops from eastern Congo before any formal deal can be signed. The United States has proposed conditions for a peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo Washington is pressuring Rwanda to end military activities in the region to facilitate a sustainable resolution to ongoing conflicts. The U.S. is leveraging mineral investments in the DRC for strategic peace efforts, aiming to stabilize the region and counter foreign influences. Sources familiar with the ongoing negotiations indicate that the United States is exerting significant pressure on Rwanda to cease its military activities in the DRC and conflict-ridden region, which has long been destabilized by armed groups and foreign interventions. This diplomatic effort, led by the U.S., aims to de-escalate hostilities and pave the way for a sustainable resolution to the violence. According to Reuters, a draft version of the proposed peace agreement explicitly states that Rwanda must remove all troops, weapons, and military equipment from Congolese territory as a condition for finalizing the deal. The report has been verified by four diplomatic sources, who confirmed to Reuters that it was authored by U.S. officials. This document marks a substantial step beyond the earlier declaration of principles signed by the foreign ministers of both countries in April during a ceremony in Washington, attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. That earlier agreement committed the parties to resolving their security disputes in a manner that respects each nation's territorial integrity and sovereignty, but did not include specific withdrawal demands. US leverages mineral access for peace Several months ago, the United States launched a major mineral deal in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of a broader strategy aimed at securing a peace agreement between the DRC and neighboring Rwanda. This move emphasized Washington's deepening diplomatic and economic involvement in a region long plagued by conflict, particularly in the eastern provinces, where immense mineral wealth has historically fueled violence and foreign intervention. The proposed agreement, which would open access for U.S. and allied companies to Congo's rich deposits of critical minerals such as cobalt, coltan, lithium, and gold, is being positioned not simply as an economic transaction, but as a calculated geopolitical instrument. The rationale behind it is straightforward: establishing peace and stability in the region would not only unlock large-scale investment but also curb the expanding influence of global competitors, especially China, in Africa's strategic resource sectors. Rwanda has been accused of backing the M23 rebel forces, while Kigali maintains that the Democratic Republic of Congo is collaborating with armed groups hostile to Rwanda's national security. Political momentum for the peace process gained traction with a high-level visit by President Donald Trump's Adviser for African Affairs, Massad Boulos, who traveled to the region to meet with both Congolese and Rwandan officials. ' You have heard about a minerals agreement. We have reviewed the Congo's proposal. I am happy to announce that the president and I have agreed on a path forward for its development, ' Boulos said following his meeting with Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi in Kinshasa. By linking the withdrawal of foreign troops, particularly those from Rwanda to prospects for peace and economic growth, the United States aims to simultaneously address regional security challenges and promote development.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
US Marines arrive in LA; California governor warns 'democracy under assault'
By Brad Brooks, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Dietrich Knauth LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Hundreds of U.S. Marines arrived in the Los Angeles area on Tuesday under orders from President Donald Trump, ratcheting up tensions in America's second largest city as California's governor warned "democracy is under assault." Trump's extraordinary measures of sending National Guard and Marines to quell protests, which broke out in response to his immigration raids, fueled demonstrations for a fifth day in Los Angeles, and sparked protests in several other cities. As Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom traded fulminations, the city's mayor said the protests were limited to about five downtown streets, but declared a curfew for parts of the downtown area due to violence and looting. Police said multiple groups stayed on the streets in some areas despite the curfew and "mass arrests are being initiated". Police earlier said that 197 people had already been arrested on Tuesday - more than double the total number of arrests to date. Democratic leaders have raised concerns over a national crisis in what has become the most intense flashpoint yet in the Trump administration's efforts to deport migrants living in the country illegally, and then crack down on opponents who take to the streets in protest. "This brazen abuse of power by a sitting president inflamed a combustible situation, putting our people, our officers and even our National Guard at risk. That's when the downward spiral began," Newsom said in an a video address. "He again chose escalation. He chose more force. He chose theatrics over public safety. ... Democracy is under assault." Newsom, widely seen as preparing for a presidential run in 2028, has called the deployments an illegal waste of resources. He and the state sued Trump and the Defense Department on Monday, seeking to block the deployment of federal troops. Trump in turn has suggested Newsom should be arrested. Trump, voted back into office last year largely for his promise to deport undocumented immigrants, used a speech honoring soldiers on Tuesday to defend his decision. He told troops at the Army base in Fort Bragg, North Carolina: "Generations of army heroes did not shed their blood on distant shores only to watch our country be destroyed by invasion and third-world lawlessness." "What you're witnessing in California is a full-blown assault on peace, on public order and on national sovereignty, carried out by rioters bearing foreign flags," Trump said, adding his administration would "liberate Los Angeles." UNREST IN THE STREETS Demonstrators have waved the flags of Mexico and other countries in solidarity for the migrants rounded up in a series of intensifying raids. Homeland Security said on Monday its Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division had arrested 2,000 immigration offenders per day recently, far above the 311 daily average in fiscal year 2024 under former President Joe Biden. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Tuesday announced a curfew for one square mile (2.5 square km) of downtown Los Angeles that will run from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. locally (0300 to 1300 GMT) for several days. With five minutes until the curfew took effect, hundreds of protesters faced police with their hands raised, chanting "peaceful protest." Even so, state and local officials have called Trump's response an extreme over-reaction to mostly peaceful demonstrations. Bass emphasized at a press conference the distinction between the majority of demonstrators protesting peacefully and a smaller number of agitators she blamed for violence and looting. A curfew had been considered for several days but Bass said she decided to impose one after 23 business were looted on Monday night. "When these peaceful rallies end, and the protesters head home, another element moves in: opportunists, who come in under the cover of a peaceful protest to ravage and destroy," Council member Ysabel Jurado, who represents the area, told reporters. As the mayor and the council member spoke, police and protesters were engaged in skirmishes outside. In what has become a daily ritual, police forced demonstrators away from the streets outside the Metropolitan Detention Center, where many detained migrants are held. Multiple groups of protesters snaked through downtown Los Angeles, monitored or followed by police armed with less lethal munitions. Protests also took place in other cities including New York, Atlanta and Chicago, where demonstrators shouted at and scuffled with officers. Some protesters climbed onto the Picasso sculpture in Daley Plaza, while others chanted that ICE should be abolished. Christina Berger, 39, said it was heartbreaking to hear about children who are afraid of being separated from their families due to immigration raids, adding, "I just want to give some hope to my friends and neighbors." MARINES AT THE READY About 700 Marines were in a staging area in the Seal Beach area about 30 miles (50 km) south of Los Angeles, awaiting deployment to specific locations, a U.S. official said. A U.S. official said there were 2,100 National Guard troops in the Los Angeles area on Tuesday, more than half the 4,000 to be activated. The Marines and National Guard troops lack the authority to makes arrests and will be charged only with protecting federal property and personnel. Even so, California Attorney General Rob Bonta told Reuters the state was concerned about allowing federal troops to protect personnel, saying there was a risk that could violate an 1878 law that generally forbids the U.S. military, including the National Guard, from taking part in civilian law enforcement. "Protecting personnel likely means accompanying ICE agents into communities and neighborhoods, and protecting functions could mean protecting the ICE function of enforcing the immigration law," Bonta said. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Tuesday posted photos on X of National Guard troops accompanying ICE officers on an immigration raid. Trump administration officials have vowed to redouble the immigration raids in response to the street protests.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Argentina's President Javier Milei Captures Houthi Missile Attack on Israel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Argentine's President Javier Milei shared images of a suspected Houthi missile attack against Israel a day after Israeli forces struck a port used by the Yemeni group in an unprecedented naval attack. Milei landed at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport on Monday night for a three-day-visit to meet with Israeli leaders, staying at King David Hotel in Jerusalem, according to the Buenos Aires Times. The Houthis said they had targeted Ben Gurion Airport with two ballistic missiles on Tuesday, claiming one had hit its target, but the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said at least one was intercepted and reported no further damage. Newsweek has reached out to the IDF for further comment. Why It Matters The Iranian-backed group has been undeterred by a recent U.S. airstrike campaign and ongoing Israeli operations against their targets in Yemen and the attack demonstrates its continued ability to attack Israel from afar. The Houthis have launched attacks against Israeli and American interests in the Red Sea following the war on Gaza that erupted after Hamas' 2023 October attack, but their threats have expanded to international vessels and now airliners. A Yemeni man walks under mock missiles and drones in a show staged previously in solidarity with Palestine on May 21, 2025 in Sana'a, Yemen. A Yemeni man walks under mock missiles and drones in a show staged previously in solidarity with Palestine on May 21, 2025 in Sana'a, To Know "I just saw this from the hotel where I'm staying in Jerusalem," Milei posted to his X account on Tuesday night, along with video footage showing missiles apparently intercepted in the sky. Milei is a staunch supporter of Israel. ÚLTIMO MOMENTO Sugiero de modo muy enfático que al momento de opinar sobre que pasa en ISRAEL tengan presente lo que es vivir bajo esta situación... Esto acabo de ver desde el hotel en el que estoy hospedado en Jerusalén. Cc: @Isaac_Herzog @netanyahu — Javier Milei (@JMilei) June 10, 2025 Milei's post came as sirens sounded in Jerusalem after a missile was launched from Yemen during his stay, Yedioth Ahronoth's Ynet reported. Military spokesperson for the Houthi group Yahya Saree said two missile attacks targeting the Ben Gurion airport. "One of the missiles directly hit Lod Airport, and interceptor systems failed to intercept it," in a video statement Tuesday. The IDF said "one missile launched from Yemen was apparently intercepted. Additional interceptors were launched due to concerns about falling interceptor fragments," according to a statement on X. Although there has been no confirmation of halting air traffic at the airport, Houthi attacks have impacted operations with some global airlines suspending flights in May. The Houthi attack followed Israel's first Navy assault on the group-controlled Hodeida port in Yemen. "The strikes were carried out to stop the use of the port for military purposes," an Israeli military official told Newsweek. "The Israeli Navy has been preparing for the operation for an extended period of time, and it is safe to say that it was a successful one." The Houthis say they are acting in solidarity with Gaza, which has been devastated by the Israeli offensive launched after its Hamas rulers attacked Israel from there in October, 2023. What People Are Saying Argentina's President Javier Milei wrote on X: "I strongly suggest that when you comment on what's happening in Israel, you keep in mind what it's like to live under this situation." Houthi Military Spokesperson Yahia Saree in statement via Telegram: "Let the criminal enemy expect from us more and more support and assistance for our people of truth and loyalty in Gaza, the pride, dignity, sacrifice, and redemption. We will continue to support and stand by their side until the aggression against them stops and the siege is lifted." An Israeli military official told Newsweek: "We will continue to operate against the Houthi threat - we have done so in the past, we have acted today, and we will act again in the future as long as this threat to Israel persists." What Happens Next Military action is expected to escalate between the two sides with the Houthis now threatening to attack Israel's Haifa port.
