Title: The DRC and Angola sign a historic agreement on the exploitation of hydrocarbons in the maritime zone of common interest
Introduction:
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Angola have finally signed a historic agreement concerning the exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Maritime Zone of Common Interest (ZIC). After years of negotiations and bilateral meetings, the two countries took a decisive step by signing this memorandum of understanding in Kinshasa on July 13. This signature paves the way for the effective implementation of the ZIC, an agreement which dates back to 2007 and which aims to allow joint exploitation of hydrocarbon resources without prejudice to the delimitation of the maritime borders between the two countries.
The context of the agreement:
Since the signing of the ZIC agreement in 2007 in Luanda, disagreements have persisted between the DRC and Angola as to the number of blocks concerned by this agreement. Attempts to resolve these disputes have been made on several occasions, but without success. However, this new signature marks a significant step forward in the cooperation between the two countries.
Economic and political issues:
The exploitation of hydrocarbons in the maritime zone shared by the DRC and Angola represents considerable economic stakes. So far, it is Angola that has benefited from the exploitation of these resources, in particular with block 15 where a large part of the deposit is in the Congolese zone. This situation generated significant financial losses for the DRC. However, experts point out that technically, this oil belongs to the DRC according to the provisions of the Montego Bay Convention, which reinforces the legitimacy of the DRC in this future joint exploitation.
Prospects for the DRC:
The signing of this agreement opens up new prospects for the DRC in terms of income and economic development. However, critical voices are raised to underline the possible political compromises that the DRC could have made to reach this agreement. Some believe that the government has mortgaged the future of the Congolese population in exchange for the military aid that Angola regularly provides to the DRC.
Conclusion :
The signing of the agreement on the exploitation of hydrocarbons in the ZIC between the DRC and Angola marks an important step in the cooperation between the two countries. This opens up new economic prospects for the DRC, but also raises questions about the political choices made to reach this agreement. It will now be necessary to closely monitor the next steps in the implementation of this agreement and assess its impact on the economy and development of the DRC.