In the minutes of a cabinet meeting, it was revealed that the Democratic Republic of the Congo was close to concluding a deal with the Florette Group, controlled by Israeli investor Dan Gertler, which may be able to recover some $2 billion worth of mining and oil assets.

The minutes of the meeting stated that the committee formed to negotiate with the Florette Group had agreed on the terms of a memorandum of understanding that would also enable the Government to recover a large part of the ownership rights in one of the mines acquired by Camuto Cooper, which had been ceded to the group.

The record added that the President of the country, Felix Chiskedi, had directed the Ministry of Justice to analyse and sign the memorandum of understanding as soon as possible in order to enable the Congo to regain full possession of mining and oil assets.

The United States Treasury imposed sanctions on Gertler and more than 30 companies in December 2017 and June 2018, accusing him of taking advantage of his friendship with former Conjo president Joseph Kabila for lucrative mining deals.

Gertler denies any wrongdoing.