The financial scandal linked to the Chinese contract in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to raise serious concerns within civil society, five months after the publication of the report by the General Inspectorate of Finance. This contract, concluded in 2008 under the presidency of Joseph Kabila, allowed the exploitation of copper and cobalt mines in the south-east of the country by a group of Chinese companies, in exchange for the construction of infrastructure by the government. Congolese.
However, fifteen years later, the Congolese authorities denounce low Chinese investment in the infrastructure provided for in the contract. While the Congolese side was to receive three billion US dollars in infrastructure, only one billion was invested, while the Chinese pocketed more than 10 billion dollars from mining. Faced with this situation, President Félix Tshisekedi called for a renegotiation to rebalance the contract.
For several months, a commission made up of representatives from Kinshasa and Chinese companies has been in negotiations. However, civil society deplores the lack of transparency surrounding these discussions. Florimond Muteba, director of the NGO Odep specializing in public finances, expressed his concerns in a press release published in Kinshasa on August 9.
“What worries us is knowing what will come out of these negotiations. We are asking for greater transparency so that the Congolese people can know the details of these agreements which have a major impact on the country’s economy” , declared Florimond Muteba.
Civil society fears that the interests of the Congolese people will not be fully taken into account during these negotiations. She therefore asks that the discussions be conducted in a transparent manner and that the results be made public in order to guarantee the good management of the country’s resources.
The Chinese contract in the DRC and the ongoing negotiations to rebalance it are therefore a subject of major concern for Congolese civil society. Transparency and consideration of the interests of the Congolese people are essential to ensure equitable management of resources and investments in the country.
As always, it is important to closely monitor developments in this situation and encourage greater transparency in the ongoing negotiations. Only genuine consideration of the needs and interests of the Congolese people will ensure equitable and sustainable development of the country.