Ivanhoe Mines confirmed that it had a business relationship with a presidential aide in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Bloomberg. The aide was arrested in a corruption case in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ivanhoe Mines controls one of the world's largest copper mines in Congo.
Ivanhoe said in a statement on December 14 that it reached an agreement last year with Vidiye Tshimanga, a top aide to Congolese President Tshisekedi.
Tshimanga was arrested in September after a series of secretly recorded videos showed him offering political protection to an unnamed mining deal in exchange for a stake in the joint venture.
In the video, Tshimanga claimed he had made a similar deal with Ivanhoe. Tshimanga is currently on trial in Congo for passive corruption and conspiracy.
"In early 2021, Ivanhoe Mines signed a term sheet with Congolese entities beneficially owned by Mr. Vidiye Tshimanga to enter into a joint venture on certain exploration licenses," Ivanhoe told Bloomberg in an email.
The deal is now in arbitration at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris because Tshimanga's company "violated the commercial terms of this agreement," Ivanhoe said.
Tshimanga's company, Congo Bantu Mining Sarl, holds three exploration licenses adjacent to several concessions owned by Vancouver-based Ivanhoe in southeastern Congo, according to the country's mining registration map.
On Dec. 15, The Sentry, a Washington-based anti-corruption group, released a report alleging that Ivanhoe received special treatment in its dealings in Congo by making deals with politically connected individuals.
