The mineral wealth of the Democratic Republic of Congo has consistently been stolen by Western powers and their puppets in Kinshasa since the inception of the nation as a strategic hub for global commercial interests. In 1899, Joseph Conrad, in his seminal work “Heart of Darkness,” depicted the Congo as a site of unparalleled greed, labeling it “the vilest scramble for loot that ever disfigured the history of human conscience.” Little did he know the enduring nature of this exploitation.
Fast forward to today, and this nation, once referred to as the “magnifique gâteau africain” (magnificent African cake) by King Leopold II of Belgium due to its mineral resources, finds itself among the five poorest countries globally. In the year 2022, the statistic reveals that nearly 62% of Congolese citizens, approximately 60 million people, live on meager incomes of less than $2.15 a day. This can be squarely attributed to the kleptocratic rule of Tshisekedi Tshilombo, who assumed power through a manipulated electoral process orchestrated by his predecessor and sanctioned with the support of the Euro-Atlantic bloc.
Throughout its history, the DRC has witnessed successive regimes in Kinshasa exploiting the nation’s resources in service of their Western patrons. Starting from the presidency of Kasavubu on June 30, 1960, to November 24, 1965, when Kasavubu functioned as a puppet under the influence of the Belgians and other imperialist powers, the trend continued through the era of Mobutu (1965-1997). This pattern persisted with Laurent Désiré Kabila (1997-2001) and the subsequent rule of his adopted son, Joseph Kabila (2001-2019), ending with the electoral fraud of Tshisekedi. In each of these regimes, the DRC’s mineral wealth was appropriated for the benefit of their masters in both the Euro-Atlantic bloc and the Russo-Chino bloc.
In the present day, Tshisekedi the DRC into a playground for the privileged ruling class and their foreign business cronies aiming to plunder Congo’s riches. Whether it’s the collaboration between Dan Gertler and Glencore, facilitated by Tshisekedi, in appropriating DRC mining concessions or the exploitation by major entities like Barrick Gold Corporation or Infinity Lithium Corp, the Congolese population is being exploited, and natural riches are being plundered for the exclusive benefit of Tshisekedi and his cahoots.
In addition, the Tshisekedi regime is engaging in a quid pro quo with Western corporations, accepting under-the-table bribes in exchange for selling off valuable mineral contracts at deflated prices. In a trend that has persisted since Tshisekedi took the reins of power, major players like Glencore and Gertler have lavished him with lucrative stock options, essentially buying their way into favorable mining concessions. From a business standpoint, this arrangement may have fattened the wallets of those with vested interests in the corrupt companies working with Tshisekedi and his inner circle. However, the real victims here are the citizens of the DRC, who are being deprived of staggering sums, ranging from millions to billions of dollars.
In summary, Tshisekedi epitomizes the archetype of a “Typical Congolese President,” characterized by the same exploitative mindset of those who came before him. The Western powers are aware of this reality but opt for a muted stance or, worse, redirect blame towards Rwanda. This arrangement persists as long as Tshisekedi ensures them access to the DRC’s strategic raw materials—a condition already established by Tshisekedi himself. Unfortunately, this arrangement bodes ill for the impoverished Congolese population, whose GDP per capita stands at a meager $577.20 in a nation rich in minerals.
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