How the World Runs on Looting the Congo

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

He is definitely under pressure, dude has gained tons of weights bags under his eyes and is stressed like hell.

Rarely does a death of a good honorable person a good thing but I think with Tshisekedi's death may be a blessing in disguise. They see that second dialogue his last attempt to have a peaceful transition of power/alternance in Congo and a lot of people on the ground will see as a waste of his legacy if it is not enforced hence the Opposition is starting to become stronger than ever and people are on full alert.

What's your prediction?

 

[Frangala]

What's your prediction?

My prediction is Kabila will be out of power and Tshisekedi's son (Felix) vs. Moise Katumbi will battle it out for President. Katumbi will be the next DRC President even though he is in exile. Tshisekedi's son has a rep in DR Congo because of his father but Katumbi is the former governor of Katanga the mineral-rich province in the southeast of the country and has international appeal because he is extremely wealthy, governed the province relatively well when he was in power so it gave him positive international attention (which I fear, he has been making trips to DC and has been living in Europe for the past year also establishing relationships with European powers).

I am weary of Katumbi despite his experience of being in public office he was an ally of Kabila and helped him retain a foothold in the Katanga Province but they fell out and Kabila attempted to throw him in jail over some bogus charges of stealing real estate and corruption. Now he has positioned himself as an opponent to the regime while the appeal of UDPS/Tshiseked is that it has always been in the opposition no matter who was in power and I am sure resisted being bought off by different regimes in place.

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

My prediction is Kabila will be out of power and Tshisekedi's son (Felix) vs. Moise Katumbi will battle it out for President. Katumbi will be the next DRC President even though he is in exile. Tshisekedi's son has a rep in DR Congo because of his father but Katumbi is the former governor of Katanga the mineral-rich province in the southeast of the country and has international appeal (which I fear, he has been making trips to DC and has been living in Europe for the past year also establishing relationships with European powers).

I am weary of Katumbi despite his experience of being in public office he was an ally of Kabila and helped him retain a foothold in the Katanga Province but they fell out and Kabila attempted to throw him in jail over some bogus charges of stealing real estate and corruption. Now he has positioned himself as an opponent to the regime while the appeal of UDPS/Tshiseked is that it has always been in the opposition no matter who was in power and I am sure resisted being bought off by different regimes in place.

Interesting, very interesting. Central African politics reminds me of the Game of Thrones television program far too often. That's not a good thing.

 

[Frangala]

Interesting, very interesting. Central African politics reminds me of the Game of Thrones television program far too often. That's not a good thing.

Sad but true. It's going to be a humble populist following his father's footsteps of democratic struggle vs. a seasoned politician with international appeal who speaks fluent English, is wealthy, popular in his own right in his province because of relatively good governance while he was there, owner of a popular football club (TP Mazembe), Biracial background (Greek Jewish father/Congolese mother).

If that's not a stark contrast, I don't know what is.

 

[loyola llothta]

I wouldn't even feel mad if the Congo got a Mao like figure who united the country and kicked out all of the neo-colonialists

Congo remind me of haiti

 

[loyola llothta]

They almost did. Laurent Kabila (the father) came into power with that agenda however he made the mistake of coming to power with the help of Rwanda, Uganda however was killed because he wanted to cut them off. Rwandans and Ugandans wanted positions in the Congolese govt. especially among security and intelligence positions in addition to other influential positions in exchange for putting Kabila into power. Kabila, wasn't having it so they murdered him and it doesn't help that genocidal maniacs like Kagame are the poster boy for development (invited in international conference and prestigious institutions of higher education like Harvard, Oxford etc... to talk about governance and development) although there is no dissent in that country and political opponents end up missing/dead and Tutsis are a minority, and he is the US' specifically the Clinton and Obama Administration's favorite due in part also that Kagame has been able to exploit the West's guilty conscience on not intervening during the 1994 genocide.

One positive thing about DRC (a country of 80 million) is that the level of tribalism is very minimal compared to other African countries. You can run into any Congolese, and they speak Kikongo, Tshiluba, Lingala and Swahili (at least two of the four main languages) in addition to French and the country is over 90% Christian. They also intermarry like crazy among the different ethnic groups. There is definitely a sense of nationalism. Congolese are getting even more politically mature as they are beginning to understand that Congo's problems is a problem of occupation and foreign aggression by the East African countries (Uganda and Rwanda) with the help/approval of Western industrialized countries in addition to an extremely corrupt political class willing to sell out their own people for foreign interests. A strong Congo means it's game over for its neighbors whether it be Angola or the aforementioned east African countries and international community.

Etienne Tshisekedi died this past week. Tshisekedi was a staunch political opponent since Mobutu all the way up until last week. His party UDPS is by far the most popular party in DR Congo by a mile and it cuts across all ethnic lines. His party is responsible for Kabila having to rethink changing the constitution by introducing a referendum that would allow to go beyond his term which expired last December. The thing about Tshisekedi and his party is they have never picked up arms and always led a nonviolent movement in a country where power is obtained through the gun as a result he was never able to ascend to power or become president despite being the most popular politician in the country's history outside of Lumumba.

Tshisekedi died in Belgium last week and was responsible for an agreement that would name the Prime Minister from his party and other key cabinet positions from his party while elections will be organized in December of 2017. The enforcement of this agreement could be a game changer for the country. Kabila has lost all legitimacy even the international community is turning on him even though he lost his elections in 2011 against Tshisekedi but due to massive fraud he was able to pull it out while the international community looked the other way. I think a change in the political class and governance definitely will go a long way but then again that's with all of Africa.

I heard Laurent Kabila was not his father but Adrian Kanambe from Rwanda with his real name Hyppolite Kanambe Kazemberembe



Any truth to that

 

[loyola llothta]

It is immensely rich in natural resources, estimated $24 trillion worth of untapped deposits of raw materials, including the world’s largest reserves of cobalt, diamonds, gold and copper.

Wow you know the west meddling

 

[Frangala]

I heard Laurent Kabila was not his father but Adrian Kanambe from Rwanda with his real name Hyppolite Kanambe Kazemberembe



Any truth to that

Possibly the man's past is such a blur because he basically grew up in exile in Tanzania and other East African countries in obscurity that nobody knows his real story and upbringing and he is very secretive person who doesn't make public appearances or give interviews.

 

[Bawon Samedi]

@Frangala GOOD shyt! And I am glad that we have posters like you joining this section. The DRC has always been a favorite discussion of mines when it comes to modern African discussions. If you have not seen this thread, we actually discuss the potential of Congo. People always say America is like the modern version of the Roman Empire(I disagree because the Romans eliminated their enemies), but to me a stable DRC would be like he second coming of the Mali Empire! Like the DRC the Mali Empire not only had vast resources but controlled 2/3 of the freaking world's gold!!! We see the same thing with the Congo with the international community depending on Congo's vast resources. This to me is why the international community does not want Congo to develop!

Anyways in your opinion what would a completely stable/developed Congo look like?

Congo remind me of haiti

I disagree. The Congo is a WHOLE other animal with a more messier/complicated history. I actually agree with @MansaMusa with the DRC leaning more towards China. Like @MansaMusa said they just haven't gotten to the "Mao" period yet.

 

[Bawon Samedi]

I wouldn't even feel mad if the Congo got a Mao like figure who united the country and kicked out all of the neo-colonialists

What do you know... This is what I've BEEN SAYING! If Africa is going to have dictators then at least have the visionary ones! That why I said the difference between Ethiopia and Nigeria is that Ethiopia while corrupt like Nigeria has a visionary government.

Congo definitely does need a visionary Mao figure.

 

[Bawon Samedi]

One positive thing about DRC (a country of 80 million) is that the level of tribalism is very minimal compared to other African countries. You can run into any Congolese, and they speak Kikongo, Tshiluba, Lingala and Swahili (at least two of the four main languages) in addition to French and the country is over 90% Christian. They also intermarry like crazy among the different ethnic groups. There is definitely a sense of nationalism. Congolese are getting even more politically mature as they are beginning to understand that Congo's problems is a problem of occupation and foreign aggression by the East African countries (Uganda and Rwanda) with the help/approval of Western industrialized countries in addition to an extremely corrupt political class willing to sell out their own people for foreign interests. A strong Congo means it's game over for its neighbors whether it be Angola or the aforementioned east African countries and international community.

This is my favorite post so far and it actually confirms my hutch in that Congo NEVER really had ethnic problems like what we see in Nigeria, Mali, Ethiopia or the Sudan. Many people have this weird idea that almost ALL African countries need to be broken up via ethncity. That is not always the case and what I noticed about Congo is that their problems/wars never revolved around ethnicity but resources.

 

[Bawon Samedi]

Anyways gonna watch doc.

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

This is my favorite post so far and it actually confirms my hutch in that Congo NEVER really had ethnic problems like what we see in Nigeria, Mali, Ethiopia or the Sudan. Many people have this weird idea that almost ALL African countries need to be broken up via ethncity. That is not always the case and what I noticed about Congo is that their problems/wars never revolved around ethnicity but resources.

It might be due to the fact that Congo's ethnicities (outside of what is now Lower Congo Basin and Katanga) are quite small. There has been ethnic conflict in Eastern Congo between indigenes and Banyamulenge (Congolese Tutsi) and Hutus.

 

[Bawon Samedi]

It might be due to the fact that Congo's ethnicities (outside of what is now Lower Congo Basin and Katanga) are quite small. There has been ethnic conflict in Eastern Congo between indigenes and Banyamulenge (Congolese Tutsi) and Hutus.

True but that seems to be from the rebels/war. For the rest of the Congo it does not seem political like what we see with Ethiopia or Nigeria.

 

[African Peasant]

Don't get me wrong (I think Kagame is the Devil) but Kabila was corrupt. Che Guevara and other accounts of him during the First Congo War point out his slothness. He was no Mao. Would Mao allow himself to be put into power with Soviet troops marching into Beijing? Probably not.

I have a lot of ideas for the Congo's development and I have high hopes for that country. You just need to get a leader who will do a few things:
- Destroy all rebel groups in the East in a concentrated campaign
- Build the infrastructure to export copper, diamonds and coltan out of Kinshasa instead of Zambia/Rwanda/Uganda
- Begin building the Inga Dam projects
- Set up farming cooperatives, agricultural colleges with the ultimate goal of becoming Africa's food exporter

Anyway, too bad about Tshisekedi. Kabila will find a way to renege on the deal. Rwanda/Uganda will scheme again. The pattern will repeat itself. Zimbabwe is too weak to defend DR Congo. Angola is preoccupied with oil woes.

He's right about LD Kabila. He had the will but lacked the competence. He wasn't build for that position. He made A LOT of mistakes, even before the beginning of the second war. He didn't know how to lead a country and a modern state. Unfortunately, the negative remarks Che made about him were right.

He was a patriot and he fought against a lot of enemies but he lacked the essential qualities to pull us out of the hole.

Congo needs a strong leader; Kabila is weak and act like a puppet of the neighbors (Rwanda, Uganda, Angola... RSA). These countries benefit from a weak DRC.