Rebalancing the Sino-Congolese contract: Economic assessment of President Félix Tshisekedi and role of Jules Alingete
By Siméon Isako
In a speech delivered at a press conference in New York, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, took stock of his economic record and spoke of revisiting the contract with China. He underlined the importance of the work accomplished by Jules Alingete, director of the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF), in the fight against corruption in the DRC.
Since 2020, the IGF has played a key role in the fight against corruption in the DRC and has produced several damning reports. Jules Alingete’s competence and integrity have earned him national and international praise, including an award from Forbes International magazine.
Félix Tshisekedi addressed the issue of contracts with China and stressed the need for a fair and mutually beneficial partnership. He recalled that according to the findings of the IGF, Chinese companies generated nearly 10 billion dollars in profits, while the DRC only received a billion.
During his recent visit to China, President Tshisekedi was pleased to see that Chinese partners were willing to listen to the DRC’s concerns and find a new balance in their partnership. He stressed the importance of not letting either party feel shortchanged, and expressed his enthusiasm for the next stage of this collaboration.
In the negotiations on the revisitation of the Sino-Congolese contract, Jules Alingete played a central role. Faced with the arrogant attitude of Chinese business delegates, he firmly defended the interests of the DRC and denounced neocolonialism. The IGF reports highlighted the imbalance in this contract concluded 15 years ago, with Chinese companies profiting greatly from the agreement while the planned infrastructure was not carried out.
For Jules Alingete, it is essential to restore equity in this relationship, taking into account the contributions of each party. The revisitation of the Sino-Congolese contract aims to guarantee a balanced partnership that truly benefits the DRC.
President Félix Tshisekedi highlights the essential role of Jules Alingete and the IGF in this rebalancing process. The fight against corruption and the search for greater equity in economic partnerships are at the heart of his vision for the development of the DRC.
It remains to be seen how the negotiations will evolve and whether the DRC will manage to rebalance the contract with China to maximize economic benefits for the country. The work of Jules Alingete and the IGF will play a crucial role in achieving this goal.