Digital Manipulation: Bot Networks Linked to Dan Gertler’s Image Rehabilitation Efforts in the DRC

In a sophisticated campaign revealed by Global Witness, a network of bot-like social media accounts and Congolese media outlets has been orchestrating an effort to rehabilitate the image of sanctioned mining tycoon Dan Gertler in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The operation attempts to portray Gertler, who was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2017 for allegedly siphoning hundreds of millions from Congo’s mineral wealth through opaque deals, as exonerated of wrongdoing. This narrative manipulates information from a private Israeli arbitration case to suggest that U.S. sanctions against him are unjustified or harmful to Congo’s economy.

The U.S. Treasury’s justification for sanctioning Gertler was unambiguous, citing his use of “hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of opaque and corrupt mining and oil deals” facilitated through his relationship with former president Joseph Kabila. Treasury estimates indicated Congo lost over $1.36 billion in revenue from underpriced mining assets linked to Gertler, though civil society groups suggested the figure could be nearly triple that amount.

When President Félix Tshisekedi took office in 2019, his administration negotiated a $250 million settlement with Gertler’s company Ventora, reclaiming assets while balancing domestic political considerations and international pressure. Congolese officials acknowledged that U.S. sanctions had been crucial in bringing the company to negotiations.

The current controversy centers on an Israeli arbitration case concluded in April 2024. This case, however, was not an anti-corruption investigation but a commercial dispute between Gertler and former Israeli investors. The arbitrator ordered Gertler to pay $85 million plus interest—hardly a vindication. While the ruling found insufficient evidence that certain payments were bribes, it explicitly avoided examining allegations previously assessed by U.S. authorities.

Following Bloomberg’s report on the arbitration in July 2025, numerous Congolese media outlets published nearly identical articles falsely claiming Gertler had been cleared of all wrongdoing. The articles appeared across multiple platforms, including AfricaNewsRDC, Scoop RDC, and Ouragan.cd, suggesting coordinated action rather than independent journalism. None of these outlets explained how they obtained confidential arbitration documents or addressed the contradiction that a private commercial arbitration cannot invalidate U.S. government sanctions.

This media surge was accompanied by synchronized activity on social media platform X. Global Witness identified at least 40 accounts created in February 2025 posting nearly identical content supporting claims that sanctions against Gertler should be lifted. These accounts displayed clear bot-like characteristics: identical creation dates, posting patterns, profile images sourced from fashion websites or stock photos, and email structures following uniform patterns.

Some of these accounts appeared connected to Russian-language email domains, suggesting potential foreign technical involvement. The accounts coordinated attacks on Congolese civil society figures, particularly those who had criticized the pro-Gertler narrative.

When Global Witness sought comment from outlets publishing these articles, Scoop RDC responded with an open letter accusing the organization of “intimidation” and “dictating narrative,” while publishing the email and personal information of a Global Witness staff member—a tactic that appears designed to potentially endanger those investigating the disinformation.

The stakes in this information battle are enormous. Congo is the world’s leading supplier of cobalt and a major copper producer—minerals essential to electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and digital technology. Multinational corporations depend on Congolese resources to meet global climate transition demands, but mining governance in the country remains weak and plagued by corruption and human rights abuses.

Any attempt to rehabilitate actors accused of contributing to such systemic problems threatens transparency and accountability in resource governance. If pro-Gertler narratives gain traction in Congo, especially if framed as patriotic or pro-development, internal pressure could mount to challenge U.S. sanctions or permit previously blocked deals.

Gertler’s spokesperson denies any coordinated media operation, claiming Congolese outlets are exercising free speech and that reporting on the arbitration reflects legitimate interpretations. However, the spokesperson did not explain why multiple outlets published nearly identical articles or how synchronized social media accounts emerged simultaneously supporting these claims.

This case represents a stark example of modern influence operations, where powerful actors deploy networks of automated accounts to shape national debates and silence critics, particularly effective in fragile media ecosystems where such tactics can rapidly distort public opinion.