UN experts say Congo rebels are illegally imposing taxes and receiving international support
By APThursday, May 27, 2010
UN experts: Congo rebels illegally impose taxes
UNITED NATIONS — U.N. experts say rebel groups in eastern Congo are illegally imposing taxes on trucks and pedestrians and receiving local, regional and international support in violation of U.N. sanctions.
In an interim report circulated to the Security Council on Thursday, the five-member panel says it also obtained documented evidence of “United Nations certificates” being forged to facilitate the sale of Congolese gold to buyers in regional countries.
The experts also cited credible information suggesting that new political and military organizations may emerge in volatile eastern Congo, creating renewed risk of regional political interference from armed groups.
Their report was issued ahead of a council vote Friday that will extend the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo but withdraw up to 2,000 troops, far fewer than Congo’s government wanted.
