Protest by young Congolese entrepreneurs: Entrepreneurship and subcontracting in the mining sector in the DRC
A recent protest has erupted in the Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighting tensions between young local entrepreneurs and the Federation of Congolese Enterprises (FEC) in the mining subcontracting sector. Indeed, a coalition of young Congolese entrepreneurs has expressed their dissatisfaction with the FEC, responsible for controlling the access of small entrepreneurs to large subcontracting markets in the country’s mining sector.
This protest, symbolized by a memorandum addressed to President Felix Tshisekedi, aims to highlight the difficulties encountered by young local entrepreneurs in gaining access to fair economic opportunities. Contractors denounce the predominant role of the FEC in recommending subcontractors to multinationals operating in the mining sector, thus calling into question the transparency and fairness of the subcontractor selection process.
In a context where Congolese youth aspire to play an active role in the economic development of their country, this protest highlights the issues linked to the promotion of local entrepreneurship. Young entrepreneurs highlight the importance of considering the needs and aspirations of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as small and medium industries (SMIs) in discussions on outsourcing, calling for a review of the MoU between the FEC and the Regulatory Authority for Subcontracting in the Private Sector (ARSP).
Beyond this protest, young Congolese entrepreneurs are calling for greater inclusiveness in decision-making processes relating to subcontracting, insisting on the need to fully involve them in the national economic dialogue. They thus underline the importance of maintaining constant vigilance on the issue of subcontracting, in order to promote the sustainable development of SMEs and SMIs in the mining sector and beyond.
This protest by young Congolese entrepreneurs illustrates the desire of local youth to actively participate in the construction of a more inclusive and equitable economy in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It highlights the challenges and issues faced by small entrepreneurs in their quest for economic opportunities, while calling for reform of subcontracting practices to ensure greater fairness and transparency in access to markets.