The Republic of Congo Needs to Protect Whistleblowers and Enforce the Log Export Ban
The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) is deeply concerned by recent allegations of threats made against employees of Société d’Exploitation Forestière Yuan Dong Congo (SEFYD), following the publication of a TV5Monde documentary on suspected illegal log exports. TV5’s reporting provides new evidence that the log export ban in the Republic of Congo – in effect since 2023 – has been systematically undermined, and that companies, including SEFYD, are profiting from lax enforcement of the law.
The ban, established under national law and supported by the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), is designed to shift the Republic of Congo away from raw log exports towards domestic processing, local manufacturing, job creation, and the reduction of forest crime. EIA investigations for close to a decade, including in the Republic of Congo, have shown that the export of raw logs is a cut-and-run business that primarily benefits wrongdoers and facilitates high rates of illegal logging.
After the French channel TV5 aired a series of films documenting how the Chinese company SEFYD is violating the national log export ban, Congolese civil society organizations reported that workers had received threats and were pressured to denounce colleagues who had spoken to the journalists.
“Individuals who expose wrongdoing in the public interest need to be protected, not punished,” said Fabrice Lamfu, Africa Program Manager for EIA. “Whistleblowers play a critical role in uncovering corruption, safeguarding national resources, and strengthening public trust. Any reprisal against workers who cooperate with journalists or authorities would undermine accountability and the rule of law.”
The newly appointed Congolese government needs to ensure that impunity in the forest sector will not be tolerated. Immediate steps should be taken to ensure the protection of all workers and witnesses linked to this case, including safeguarding against dismissal, intimidation, forced transfers, or any other retaliation. A credible and independent review of the allegations would also increase confidence in state institutions and demonstrate commitment to good governance.
The recent media investigation, produced in collaboration with the Pulitzer Center underscores the urgent need to fully enforce the Log Export Ban, stop illegal activities and establish transparency and accountability in the forest sector, in order to manage and safeguard the country’s forests for future generations.