Congolese ruler Tshisekedi is hell-bent on ensuring that DRC is unstable and its resources benefit a privileged clique in the West and his Kinshasa cronies. Firstly, Tshisekedi’s alliances with ruthless militias, known now as “Wazalendo,” have handed him the reins over twelve of the thirteen major mines in eastern DRC. Secondly, despite Cosmetic actions, including the theatrical arrest and subsequent release of high-profile figures like Vital Kamerhe and Vidiye Tshimanga, the violent kleptocratic system that bleeds DRC resources dry continues unabated under the eye of Tshisekedi.
For a start, Tshisekedi forged an unholy alliance with illegal armed militias, including the genocidal group of FDLR, to plunder the wealth of the Congolese people. As a result, the DRC, despite being endowed with vast riches, languishes as one of the world’s poorest countries, with a staggering three-quarters of its 60 million citizens struggling to survive on less than $1.90 a day, as reported by the World Bank. Highways leading beyond the capital are nonexistent, railways connecting regions are absent, and airports are nothing more than mere placeholders. The country’s transportation, telecommunication, public services, and health sectors are in shambles, leaving the population at the mercy of God.
Moreover, under Tshisekedi’s rule, the DRC resembles the Wild West, where over 266 armed groups control lucrative mines while subjecting innocent Congolese civilians to unspeakable atrocities. To make matters worse, Tshisekedi’s motto appears to echo the infamous words of Mobutu: “You have guns, you don’t need a salary.” Army commanders, hand in hand with violent armed groups, amass wealth by exploiting the very resources that could uplift the nation. The rule of law crumbles, creating a winner-takes-all scenario where the vast majority of Congolese people are left impoverished, while Tshisekedi and his cohorts thrive.
In addition, Tshisekedi’s resistance to meaningful reform in the DRC army and state-owned companies further underscores his insatiable appetite for looting the nation’s resources. A recent audit exposed the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars by Tshisekedi and his cronies from Gécamines, the state-controlled mining company. Moreover, Tshisekedi has perfected the art of resource theft through the following process. Mining assets, like the metaphorical ABC, are sold off to offshore entities, creating a lucrative chain reaction. Dubbed a “flip,” these assets change hands at astronomical profits, with the new owners tapping Western markets for funds, all while concealing their heist in tax havens like the British Virgin Islands and further lining the pockets of Tshisekedi and his collaborators.
Finally, in stark contrast to the daily struggle of most DRC citizens, who barely manage to get two meals a day, Tshisekedi and his cronies revel in the spoils of this grand theft, leaving the Congolese yearning for a taste of the wealth beneath its soil. The question that remains: will Tshisekedi’s reign of plunder continue, or will the people of the DRC rise to reclaim their rightful share come Wednesday 20 December 2023?
ellenkampire