News

 Congo's contract review: Its strategic and economic significance

 Wed, 01/23/2008 - 17:38 |

• Maurice Carney
• resources

Reprinted from Pambazuka News on January 17, 2008, the anniversary of the assassination of Patrice Lumumba.

Maurice Carney analyses the recently-concluded review of Congo's mining contracts and the significance of this process in safeguarding the country's considerable mineral wealth..

On par with a resolution to the current conflict in the northeast of the Congo is the mining review process that the Congolese government announced in April 2007. The government initiated a review of some 60 odd mining contracts, established during the period of conflict (1996 – 2002) and the transition (2003 – 2006). The review offers an opportunity for the Congolese government to stop the systematic looting of the Congo. The review is now complete but the government has yet to publish the results. In spite of repeated requests and pressure... >>>