The proposal of Olivier Kamitatu, director of cabinet of the political opponent Moïse Katumbi, for the establishment of a Federal Republic of the Congo raises essential questions on governance, decentralization and the contemporary challenges that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is confronted. In a context of centralization which has often been criticized for its rigidity and unequal impacts on the territory, the idea of a federal structure could offer a path to a management more suited to local realities.
### An observation of the failure of the centralized model
Kamitatu, former president of the transitional parliament and key player in the development of the current constitution, highlights that the centralized governance model in the DRC did not satisfactorily address persistent challenges such as natural resources management, generalized poverty, and recurrent armed conflicts. This observation is shared by numerous observers who point out that centralization often exacerbates regional inequalities and limits the autonomy of local authorities.
### The vision of regional governance
Kamitatu’s proposal revolves around the creation of five major regions: Oriental, Ecuador, Kongo, Kasai and Katanga. Each of these regions would have an elected local government, financial autonomy, and the power to manage its natural resources. This approach could potentially allow governance closer to citizens, better in line with the country’s cultural, economic and social diversities.
The idea of enhancing the regional assets is particularly relevant, knowing that regions like Katanga are rich in minerals while the Oriental could take advantage of its strategic position as a commercial crossroads. Nevertheless, the question arises: how to ensure effective and transparent management of these resources on a local level, while avoiding the drifts and conflicts that have already taken place in certain provinces?
### The challenges of redistribution of resources
Kamitatu offers sharing of income generated by natural resources, suggesting that around 60 % of this income would return to the regions. Although this proposal may seem fair, it raises questions about the implementation of control mechanisms to prevent these funds from being diverted or badly used. Indeed, experience shows that the management of natural resources in Africa can be marked by corruption issues and conflicts of interest, which requires increased vigilance.
The introduction of an interregional equalization fund, aimed at compensating for economic disparities, could be a means of strengthening national cohesion. However, the implementation of this fund would be complex and would require a degree of collaboration between regions and the federal government, as well as a solid governance framework to administer resources fairly.
### to an inclusive and dialogue approach
Kamitatu’s proposal does not only stop at a new administrative scheme; It also provides for a national dialogue, inviting all stakeholders to contribute to this reflection on the reform of the state structure. This dialogue is of crucial importance in a country where tensions between ethnic communities and central authorities are palpable, exacerbated by persistent security crises, especially in the east of the country, where armed groups continue to sow disorder and affect millions of lives.
The question that arises here is that of the capacity of all political, traditional and civil actors to engage in a constructive and inclusive approach. Such an approach could make it possible to find lasting solutions to the concerns of populations while consolidating national unity, which Kamitatu underlines as a fundamental objective of this federal reform.
### Conclusion: a way to explore
In short, the proposal to create a Federal Republic of the Congo deserves to be examined in depth. It represents a potential response to the critical challenges of the DRC, while taking into account the regional specificities. However, the success of such a project will depend on the ability of leaders and citizens to collaborate in a framework of trust and mutual respect. In this sense, Kamitatu’s initiative could, if it is implemented with rigor and transparency, contribute to reinventing a more prosperous and fair Congo, provided that the lessons of the past are taken into account to avoid previous errors.