Statement By World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz On Arrest Of Congo Civil Society Organization Representatives

Contact:

In Washington: Ana Elisa Luna Barros (202) 473 2907
alunabarros@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2006—"The Bank notes with concern the recent arrest in the Republic of Congo of two civil society leaders, Brice Mackosso of the Catholic Church Justice and Peace Commission and Christian Mounzeo, President of Rencontre pour la Paix et les Droits de l'Homme.

The World Bank's decision earlier this month to support debt relief for the Congo under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program was premised, among other things, on greater visibility of oil revenues, and strong participation of civil society in monitoring their allocation to social programs.

Both Mackosso and Mounzeo and their organizations have been publicly supporting more transparency and greater accountability in the use of Congo's public resources. Their arrest calls into question Congo's commitments to assure there is public accountability."