the citizen's blog
This article deals with the economic situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Although the exchange rate of the Congolese currency has remained stable lately, and government spending is under control, the country still faces many challenges to achieve sustainable economic growth. The continuing humanitarian crisis is detrimental to economic growth and it is necessary to encourage foreign investment to create an economic climate conducive to the establishment of businesses.
This excerpt relates the death of Samy Mikobi, nicknamed the “Strategist”, a personality known in Congolese showbiz for his many useful connections in influential circles. Samy Mikobi worked for ACEC and has been a member of Socodam since 1990. He was also close friends with Papa Wemba and honorary Prime Minister and current Vice-President of the Senate Samy Badibanga. His passing left a huge void in Congolese showbiz, and his memory remains as a man of many talents and extensive connections.
The central government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has disbursed CDF 753,225,695,936 or USD 372.6 million to the country’s provinces, representing 45% of the annual budget estimate of CDF 1,661,388,716,346 for 2023. After Kinshasa, the most subsidized province is Kwilu with 63,942,974,930 CDF and North Kivu with 45,037,360,775 CDF. This comes as the country is experiencing a humanitarian crisis in the east, a shortage of corn and seeks to open up to the world with the aim of attracting investors to develop agriculture and diamond mining. The Congolese government has also strengthened its partnership with China while facing a protest from political opponents scheduled for May 20, 2023.
This article extract relates the SACIM affair, a Sino-Congolese partnership which continues to cause controversy in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This case allegedly involved the former governor of Kasaï-Oriental, Ngoyi Kasanji, who allegedly took advantage of mining production to support his own interests without paying taxes or taxes. The government has implemented measures to remedy this injustice, but some selfish acts persist. President Félix Tshisekedi encourages foreign investment to develop the country while facing a humanitarian crisis in the east of the country. The question of the equitable exploitation of natural resources thus remains central in the DRC.
Samy Mikobi, emblematic figure of Congolese showbiz and nicknamed “The Strategist”, has left us. His sudden disappearance moved everyone who knew him. Public man and friend of musicians, Samy Mikobi had the ability to socialize with all strata of society, his adaptability was one of the strongest traits of his personality. He left his mark in various structures, notably at ACEC and Socodam. His professional life was punctuated with great feats of arms and he had marked his time.
The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, visited the Jwaneng mine in Botswana with the aim of discovering the Botswanan model of production and marketing of diamonds, and expressed his wish to duplicate this model in the DRC in order to reorganize the country’s diamond industry. He also participated in an Extraordinary SADC Summit to discuss security issues in the DRC. This visit could mark the beginning of a new era for the DRC’s diamond industry and help strengthen the country’s economy.
The 49th General Assembly of the Global Fund Board was held in Hanoi, Vietnam on May 8, 2023. African delegates, led by Dr. Jean-Jacques Mbungani Mbanda, advocated for the procurement of locally produced medicines and for the policy of strengthening local capacities and regional and continental structures. Africa has two seats among the 28 available on the board of the Global Fund.
The resurgence of M23 in 2022 has caused an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC, where more than one million people have been displaced in just one year. Bruno Lemarquis, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in the DRC, recently called for increased mobilization to respond to the humanitarian crisis in the provinces of North Kivu, Ituri and Lubero. The current humanitarian response is only 50% funded, which further exacerbates the crisis, and Bruno Lemarquis called for increased resource mobilization and international pressure on donors.
Jeanpy Kabongo, a Congolese artist, uses Kuba carpets for his photographs which represent the connection between the present and the past. Through these works, Jeanpy wants to inspire an appreciation of history and culture, especially in the DRC where he laments a lack of creativity. His series of works is a reflection on history and culture as well as a reconciliation with his own cultural heritage. Its visual language uses a clear dark stage technique that creates a unique and fascinating effect.
This excerpt is actually made up of two different subjects.
The first deals with the presentation of the book by journalist Michela Wrong entitled “Rwanda, assassin without borders”. This is a book that tells the story of Patrick Karegeya, former opponent of the regime of Paul Kagame, current president of Rwanda. Michela Wrong explains that her intention is to bring the history of Rwanda to the world, while denouncing the support of Western governments for Kagame despite the lack of freedom and the rigged elections.
The second subject is a statement by Weston Kutohomba, head of the investment chamber of Chad’s finance ministry. He speaks in favor of the lifting of constraints for the private sector and supports the reforms carried out to modernize the bureaucracy of the Chadian State. Weston Kutohomba sees Chad as a country with untapped potential and an attractive central location for investors in Africa.