Dan Gertler
Until 2022, his group had mining and oil interests[2] in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and has invested in diamonds, iron ore, gold, cobalt, copper, agriculture, and banking.[3] From September 2000 through April 2001, Gertler had the sole right to buy "all diamonds produced in territory under the control of the Congolese Government", for which he had paid Kabila $20 million.[13]: 5 [14]) In April 2002, Emaxon signed a contract through which Gertler gained a four-year right to market 88% of the rough-diamond production of the Societé minière de Bakwanga (MIBA), about a quarter of the DRC's legitimate diamond exports, at around 600,000 carats a month.[19] In February 2022, the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo announced that it was close to signing an agreement with the Fleurette Group, owned by the Gertler family, under which it would transfer, among other things, cash, cobalt mines, and oil wells worth two billion dollars to the state.As part of the agreement, Ventora Group, owned by the Gertler family, transferred all the mining and oil licenses it held, including the research results it had conducted on the assets over the years, worth 2-3 billion dollars.[22] In 2007 Gertler's family trust was the major shareholder of Prairie International Ltd., owner of "Tremalt Limited, which owned 80% of Savannah Mining, the holder of the other half of copper and cobalt operation Mukondo, as well as concessions C17 and C18 in the mineral-rich Katanga Province"[23] of the DRC.[31] In November 2007 the digital mining industry Miningmx reported that Dan Gertler's Prairie International Ltd. and CAMEC had created a joint venture vehicle in the Mukondo with concessions held by the state-owned Gécamines.[39] An RBC Capital Markets analyst, Cailey Barker, speculated that Anvil would use the cash infusion for acquisitions, but the company said it would remain focused on completing its Kinsevere Stage II project."[42] In June 2010 the Financial Post of Canada reported that Highwind Properties, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands, now owned the Kolwezi project.[43] In August 2010 Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation, a company listed in London with most of its operations in Kazakhstan, said it was buying indirect control of the Kolwezi licence from Dan Gertler.Camrose paid for Africo through a loan from an offshore British Virgin Islands-registered company called Vipar, "an affiliate of Africa Management Limited.The CEO, Philip Pascal, said "the activities on the legal side come from a small and very influential group of individuals in the Congo and don't necessarily mirror the sentiments of a number of other authorities".On 21 December 2009 Emerald Star sold an option to buy the remaining 50% stake of Société Minière de Kabolela et de Kipese SPRL, (a company formed by Melkior Resources Inc and Gécamines that holds the rights to develop the Kabolela cobalt-copper deposit) to Katash[clarification needed]-founded mining company Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC) who already owned 50%.[53] Biko Invest Corporation (BVI), linked to Dan Gertler and incorporated 23 February 2011 in the British Virgin Islands, bought a quarter of Kansuki Sprl from Gécamines in 2011.[53] In September 2011 the International Monetary Fund asked for explanations from Sodimico and Gécamines, both owned by the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), concerning sales of assets below market value and without publicity.[19] On 5 November 2017, the Paradise Papers, a set of confidential electronic documents relating to offshore investment, revealed that Glencore loaned $45 million to Gertler in exchange for his help with officials of the Democratic Republic of Congo in negotiations over a joint venture with state-owned Gécamines at the Katanga copper mine in 2009.[38] According to a February 2018 article in The Economist, the sanctions statement said that Gertler had "amassed his fortune through hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of opaque and corrupt mining and oil deals" in the DRC.[38] It was reported on 25 January 2021 that in the final days of the Trump Administration, following lobbying by Alan Dershowitz and others working for Gertler, the US Treasury Department had issued a license which temporarily lifted the restrictions on him.In September 2024, the Tel Aviv District Court asked the parties to dismiss the lawsuit, reasoning that "in these times (amid the Israel–Hamas war), it is neither right nor appropriate to escalate disputes within Israel."The foundation aims to improve the lives of the most vulnerable communities in Congo, focusing on healthcare services, education, infrastructure development, agriculture, culture, and emergency assistance.As part of its efforts, the foundation established five hospitals in Congo,[70] donated medical equipment and supplies, and facilitated free cleft lip and palate surgeries.[71] The foundation also rehabilitated a school in Lubumbashi, contributed to the construction of a computer center, library, and additional classrooms, developed infrastructure, and established farms and a zoo.The kollel operates around the clock, providing the scholars with higher-than-usual monthly stipends,[79] special holiday grants, and assistance with the costs of expensive dental treatments, bar mitzvahs, and weddings.[82] In 2003, Gertler was an active participant in the Congo peace talks (the Sun City Agreement), mediating between Joseph Kabila, Paul Kagame, and American diplomats, including Condoleezza Rice."[83] According to Ron Dermer, former Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Gertler is an asset to Israel's security and interests due to his connections in Africa and his philanthropic contributions.