Congo

A Nation of Wealth, Congolese in Poverty

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) should be Africa’s economic giant. Blessed with cobalt, copper, diamonds, gold, and fertile land, it is one of the richest countries in terms of resources.

Yet, paradoxically, it remains one of the poorest nations in the world. Over 60% of Congolese citizens live on less than $2 a day.

When Félix Tshisekedi became president in 2019, many saw his election as a turning point after decades of authoritarian rule under Joseph Kabila.

He promised reform, peace, and a “new Congo.” Six years later, however, those promises have given way to incompetence, corruption, and human rights violations.

Leadership Without Vision

Tshisekedi’s presidency began under suspicion. His 2018 election was marred by irregularities, with evidence suggesting a backroom deal with Joseph Kabila helped him secure power.

As a result, he entered office without a strong mandate.

Since then, Tshisekedi’s governance has been marked by drift. He moves from one crisis to another, reacting instead of planning.

Instead of a leader with vision, Congo has a president who rules through improvisation, more focused on staying in power than solving national problems.

Corruption Thrives Under Tshisekedi

Congo has long struggled with corruption, but Tshisekedi promised to end the cycle. Six years later, the situation is unchanged—or worse.

Billions of dollars vanish annually from mining revenues, customs, and state companies. The Inspectorate General of Finance (IGF) has uncovered shocking embezzlement scandals implicating top officials.

Yet, instead of accountability, most perpetrators remain free.

Critics argue that Tshisekedi has not dismantled corruption networks but merely replaced Kabila’s with his own. Contracts flow to political allies, public funds disappear, and the people see little change in their daily lives.

Eastern Congo: Empty Promises of Peace

Eastern Congo has been unstable for decades, plagued by dozens of armed groups. Tshisekedi vowed to restore peace but insecurity has only worsened.

In 2021, he declared a “state of siege” in North Kivu and Ituri, giving full control to the military. Instead of bringing order, it led to new abuses—extortion, arbitrary arrests, and civilian deaths.

Today, over 7 million Congolese are internally displaced, the highest figure in Africa.

Communities in Goma, Ituri, and Beni remain in fear, accusing Tshisekedi of empty rhetoric while they endure displacement and violence.

Mismanagement of Congo’s Natural Wealth

The DRC produces more than 70% of the world’s cobalt, a key mineral for electric cars and smartphones. It also has vast copper and gold reserves. With these resources, Congo should be thriving.

Instead, it is trapped in poverty.

Under Tshisekedi, shady mining deals have continued. Billions are lost through opaque contracts with foreign companies, particularly Chinese firms.

Despite pledges to renegotiate unfair deals, little has been done.

Local communities suffer the most—land seizures, pollution, and child labor are widespread—while the government fails to channel resource wealth into schools, hospitals, and infrastructure.

Congo’s natural riches enrich others while its people remain poor.

A President Obsessed with International Image

On the world stage, Félix Tshisekedi brands himself a reformer. He speaks at international summits, lectures about democracy, and secures flashy agreements with global powers.

At home, however, the story is different. Hospitals lack medicine, teachers strike for unpaid wages, unemployment is rampant, and infrastructure crumbles. Citizens see a president who cares more about photo opportunities abroad than the realities at home.

Donors are beginning to notice the gap between rhetoric and delivery, but foreign aid continues, sustaining a government that consistently fails its people.

Human Rights Abuses Against Tutsi Congolese

One of the most disturbing failures of Tshisekedi’s presidency is his treatment of Congolese Tutsi communities, Kinyarwanda-speaking citizens, and those of Rwandan origin.

These groups, who have lived in Congo for generations, are regularly labeled “foreigners” by politicians and media.

Tshisekedi’s government has tolerated—and sometimes encouraged—this dangerous narrative. As a result, Tutsi Congolese have faced discrimination, harassment, and even violence.

Instead of protecting all citizens, Tshisekedi’s government has allowed ethnic profiling to flourish, leaving entire communities vulnerable.

The Danger of Ethnic Scapegoating

Targeting Congolese Tutsis is not only unjust—it is dangerous. It echoes the ethnic politics that fueled the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. By permitting hate speech and tolerating ethnic exclusion, Tshisekedi risks igniting a new wave of violence.

This scapegoating also diverts attention from the government’s incompetence.

By blaming Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese for insecurity, Tshisekedi avoids accountability for his own failures in governance and security.

Congo’s Broken Promise of Citizenship

The Congolese constitution guarantees equal citizenship to all, regardless of ethnicity or language.

But under Tshisekedi, this promise is broken. Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese face barriers in education, politics, and employment, often treated as second-class citizens in their own country.

Rather than building an inclusive society, Tshisekedi has weaponized identity politics. This not only deepens divisions but also prevents Congo from moving toward peace and stability.

Tshisekedi’s Re-Election and Growing Backlash

Despite these failures, Tshisekedi declared victory in the December 2023 election, securing a second term amid allegations of fraud.

Opposition leaders rejected the results, and observers reported irregularities.

His contested re-election only fueled public anger. Across Kinshasa and Goma, protests have highlighted not just corruption but also the ethnic scapegoating and rights violations under his rule.

A President Who Divides Instead of Unites

Félix Tshisekedi inherited a country desperate for change but squandered the opportunity. His presidency has been marked by corruption, mismanagement, insecurity, and deliberate division.

By tolerating the persecution of Tutsi Congolese and weaponizing identity politics, he has betrayed his own citizens.

Congo deserves better. It deserves a leader who governs with vision, protects all citizens equally, and uses the nation’s resources for development instead of political survival.

Until then, the Democratic Republic of Congo will remain a nation rich in potential but crippled by incompetence, corruption, and the failures of Félix Tshisekedi.