Contract negotiation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is regularly the subject of controversy and controversy. Accusations of selling off the country’s wealth and fraud are often raised, thus sparking heated debates within civil society and the Congolese political class.
In recent weeks, MP Alfred Maisha Bishobibiri submitted a written question to the National Assembly office, questioning three government ministers. According to him, the joint venture agreement signed between the DRC and Primera Group for mining in the province of South Kivu would be a real sell-off of the country’s wealth. The government, for its part, rejects these accusations and affirms that this agreement is in the national interest.
This situation is reminiscent of other controversial contracts that have been signed by the Congolese government in the past. We can notably cite the Sino-Congolese contract signed in 2008 with a Chinese consortium, described as the scam of the century by the Inspector General of Finance at the time. Many experts also recommend its renegotiation.
It is therefore legitimate to ask how the DRC negotiates its contracts and what are the issues surrounding these negotiations. To shed light on this question, we have invited three experts who will share their points of view with us.
Georges Bokondu, Program Director of Southern Africa Resource Watch (SARWA) and former Vice-President of the mining contracts revisitation commission, will bring his expertise in the negotiation of mining contracts in the DRC.
Franck Fwamba, founder and general director of the Mining News magazine and coordinator of the “Touche pas à mon Cobalt” campaign, will share his experience in the field of natural resources and development in the DRC.
Florimont Muteba, chairman of the board of directors of the Public Expenditure Observatory (ODEP), will provide a critical look at the management of contracts and public expenditure in the DRC.
This debate promises to be lively and will provide a better understanding of the issues surrounding contract negotiation in the DRC. Stay tuned to discover the different points of view and analyzes of our guests.