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CHALLENGE Sponsored supplement

DR Congo

The future in progress

Economic recovery, reconstruction of basic infrastructure, control of the production apparatus and increased budget allocation for health and education… it’s all systems go for the country’s modernisation and transformation.

ECONOMY Since 2002, ongoing efforts and deep reforms have restored DR Congo to a state of sustained growth.

INFRASTRUCTURE Roads, rail, rivers, aviation and energy – the multifaceted challenges of getting this huge country back on track.

LAND AND PEOPLE In this vast country overflowing with mineral wealth, legendary biodiversity and abundant agriculture, history and extreme linguistic and cultural diversity have built a Nation.

The brand new government building in Kinshasa, with the National Unity monument in the middle of the square.

DR CONGO THE FUTURE IN PROGRESS

ECONOMY

Growth comes first With a stable macroeconomic framework, strict revenue management and a greatly improved business climate, DR Congo can now make the most of its abundant natural wealth.

ituated in the heart of Africa and covering an area equivalent to that of a continent, the Democratic Republic of Congo is a country rich in natural resources, while its agriculture, river system and huge forest offer considerable development potential. The twelfth largest country in the world by area and crossed by two time zones, DR Congo is also the most populated country in Central Africa. Now, having emerged from a tumultuous period that seriously affected its economy, its president, Joseph Kabila, is resolutely committed to peace and has focused his programme on reconstruction.

Deep reforms Growing at an average rate of 7% per year since 2005, something unheard of in DR Congo since 1970, GDP growth came close to 9% in 2014. The momentum of this economic recovery

has been set by the country’s determination to restore the foundations of a modern economy, in which the administrative machinery is well structured and good governance is the rule. It is now characterised by a stable macroeconomic framework, controlled and low inflation (1% in 2014) and the stability of the Congolese franc against foreign currencies.

“Congo is a like a sleeping giant who, after forty years, is finally awakening.” Joseph Kabila Kabange

Reforming public finances has played a major role in this economic success. The introduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) in 2012 improved the efficiency of state revenue mobilisation. Added to this is the state’s proactive approach to civil service payroll banking, which has in turn contributed to better management of the public sector workforce and payroll. The salaries of over 80% of civil servants now go straight into their bank accounts. This reform is also advantageous to the development of the country’s banking networks.

CHALLENGE I Sponsored supplement to The Africa Report n°76, December 2015-January 2016

DR CONGO THE FUTURE IN PROGRESS

Better natural resource management

contribution to the state budget, the country joined the ranks of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) compliant countries in July 2014.

The robustness of the economy and renewed investor confidence has contributed to the significant increase in mining production. Copper, cobalt, gold, diamonds, zinc, cassiterite, coltan and wolframite are the main mining products that have grown strongly over the last decade. In 2014, copper production exceeded a million tons – twice the record achieved in 1986. DR Congo has surpassed Zambia to become Africa’s leading copper producer and the fifth largest producer in the world. It is also the world’s largest cobalt producer, with a production of 66,915 t in 2014, ten times more than China, which now ranks second.

Ongoing business climate improvements To promote the development of local businesses and persuade more foreign investors to focus on the country’s potential in sectors other than mining, fundamental tax, legal, accounting and institutional reforms have been gradually implemented since 2011. A Single Window system was set up in April 2013 to simplify business registration procedures. The process has been reduced from five months to three days and the number of administrative procedures from thirteen to three.

Through these efforts to better manage its natural resources and their

JOSEPH KABILA KABANGE PRESIDENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

international campaign to bring peace to the country and reconcile DR Congo’s people. This process enabled the establishment of a government of national unity, which he ran from 2003 to 2006. Elected president in 2006, Joseph Kabila implemented the Cinq Chantiers (Five Projects), a programme focused on rebuilding infrastructure. Simultaneously, his government’s efforts to restore and stabilise public finances

resulted in the 2010 cancellation of 90% of the country’s public debt. Joseph Kabila

Resolutely committed to peace and rebuilding the economy, Joseph Kabila is the son of Laurent-Désiré Kabila, who led the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo, responsible for the removal of Mobutu in May 1997. Becoming the country’s leader after the assassination of his father in January 2001, Joseph Kabila became firmly engaged in dialogue with the rebels and carried out an extensive

was re-elected in 2011 with 48.9% of the vote in a single-round election.

ECONOMY

DR Congo has also signed up to several investment guarantee mechanisms, such as the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Washington-based International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). In 2012 the country joined OHADA, the Organisation for the Harmonisation of African Business Law. These measures are complemented by a new customs law and the introduction of a Single Window system at the main border and customs posts. They reduce costs and expedite the processing of imports and exports.

DR Congo is the world’s 5th largest producer of copper, which it exports as concentrate and cathode (above). Below, the Grande Cimenterie cement factory in Katanga, 120 km from Lubumbashi, reopened in 2013.

A direct spin-off of these good results is that DR Congo can now direct public investment towards education, health and infrastructure (roads, airports, rivers and government buildings). Government education spending increased from 6% of the state budget in 2007 to 16% in 2014. The positive effects of this policy is the gradual

Positive impact

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DR CONGO THE FUTURE IN PROGRESS

implementation of free primary education and school attendance for girls. At the same time, access to healthcare is constantly improving throughout the country.

A major programme of infrastructure rebuilding and rehabilitation is also underway. After the Cinq Chantiers (Five Projects) Programme, which was launched in 2006 and achieved essential transport links, DR Congo is continuing its investment in a modern transport network to serve its vast territory (which is four times the size of France), reduce travel time between villages and towns and optimise its mining, agricultural and forestry production areas.

KEY FIGURES Urban population

Area

2.345,409 km² Population

70 million

35%

Currency

Congolese franc (CDF)

(1 dollar = 910 CDF) GDP growth rate

8.9% (2014)

Per capita GDP

$440

GDP

$34.5 billion (2014)

Economic recovery has led to robust development in the banking sector and modern trade.

Advertisement for a bank (above). A supermarket in Kinshasa (opposite). 6

ECONOMY

Agriculture as a driver of development DRC’s once-thriving agricultural sector is beginning to flourish again, paving the way for new industries. Modernisation, partnerships and state commitment are key elements of a recovery strategy that is reaping results.

Lugo ecological farm, near Lubumbashi. Food crop production is increasing around large urban centres.

Reviving industrial plantations After having been in decline

ith the potential to feed the entire African continent, the Democratic Republic of Congo has 80 million hectares of arable land, of which only 5% is currently in use. To feed its population, the country has to resort to food imports, estimated at $1.5 billion in 2014. With the opening of roads and agricultural feeder roads, food production (cassava, maize, beans, potatoes, plantain and rice) is steadily increasing. The agricultural landscape is made up mostly of small farmers using rudimentary techniques and limited space, and subsistence farming for local and onfarm consumption is the still the main feature. Around major urban centres such as Kinshasa or Lubumbashi, small farmers grow corn and vegetables and some do a bit of livestock farming. Mechanised farms of 200500 ha or more are still few and far between.

for a long period of time, industrial crops – coffee, rubber and oil palm – were given a new lease on life in the mid-2000s. Coffee production (Robusta in the north and Arabica in the east, both Kivu provinces) reached 9,000 tons in 2013, although it still has a long way to go to match its 1988 record of 104,000 tons. Similarly, palm

oil production is on an upward trend (10,880 tons in 2013), with the sector operated by agribusiness companies such as Plantations et Huileries du Congo, a subsidiary of Canada’s Feronia, DR Congo’s Blattner Elwyn, and Brabanta, a subsidiary of French giant Bolloré, as well as some small farmers. Plans are under

CHALLENGE I Sponsored supplement to The Africa Report n°76, December 2015-January 2016

DR CONGO THE FUTURE IN PROGRESS

SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN FOREIGN TRADE DR Congo’s foreign trade has made a remarkable recovery since the knock it took in the early 2000s. Over the past decade, exports have grown by 47% per year on average, reaching $12 billion in 2014. During the same

period, the country’s imports have seen an average growth of 38% ($10 billion in 2014). New trading partners have come onto the scene and shifted the focus of foreign trade, which was formerly

consideration to rehabilitate and set up private oil palm and rubber plantations and, in partnership with private investors, to get former State plantations up and running again. Tea cultivation was once highly developed in Nord-Kivu, and cocoa cultivation was big in the Equateur and Orientale provinces (two northern provinces in the previous administrative layout).

directed mainly towards the European Union and the United States. Now, South Africa, Zambia, China, India and, more recently, Turkey are among the country’s main customers and leading suppliers.

east of Kinshasa. These parks bring together the entire value chain (production, processing, storage, sale and transport) on one site. The AIP approach is based on public-private

partnerships (PPP), in which the state is responsible for securing the land and developing the sites, which it owns. Private partners are responsible for the production, processing, storage and marketing.

Responsible and rewarding forestry DR Congo is home to two thirds of the forest in the Congo River basin, itself the second largest rainforest in the world after the Amazon. DR Congo’s forests cover 145.5 million hectares, of which 85 million hectares are rainforests, mainly located in the northern provinces. Despite the abundance of this natural resource, the forestry sector represents only 1% of

In 2013, the country launched a national strategy to increase and diversify agricultural production with the aim of ensuring food security and to supply new agro-industrial units able to respond to both domestic and foreign market demand. To achieve these objectives, the 2013-2020 National Agricultural Investment Plan (NAIP) places the emphasis on the development of Agro-Industrial Parks (AIP) across the country. The first to become operational is in Bukanga-Lonzo, 240 kilometres

Producing more to meet demand

Industrial plantations are being developed, mainly as Public-Private Partnerships. Here, Alpha Mining in Lubumbashi.

GDP. Important reforms were initiated in 2002, including the establishment of Forest Concession Contracts (FCC), representing an area of 10 million hectares, for which 60 FCCs

have been granted to date. Production reached 187,000 m³ in 2013, with two thirds being exported as logs even though the Forest Code sets the minimum level of local processing at 70%. The 10-year target is to locally process 100% of timber production and increase the sector’s contribution to GDP to 3%.

High potential in fishing and aquaculture While its fishing potential is estimated at 707,000 tons, DR Congo annually imports more than 150,000 tons of fish for a domestic consumption

ECONOMY

Farming is gradually being modernised (left). Above: Loading logs at Kinshasa river port. of 240,000 tons. Production is mainly artisanal and is split 63% in large lakes (Albert, Edward, Kivu, Tanganyika and Moero, etc.) and 28% in rivers, with the rest being carried out in retention lakes in the centre of the country and on the Atlantic coast (1%). In the fishing areas themselves, the catch is transported by local operators. However, air transport is the only way of getting fresh fish to market, greatly increasing the cost to the consumer. The sector has enormous potential for development across the board, in fisheries, aquaculture, processing and transportation.

NATIONAL AGRICULTURE INVESTMENT PLAN Covering the period 2013-2020, DR Congo’s National Agricultural Investment Plan (NAIP) has four objectives: ensuring food security for its people; diversifying their diet; developing

agricultural and agroindustrial business lines so that they become the main drivers of growth and exports; and halving the poverty rate. At a cost estimated at $5.73 billion over

seven years, the National Agricultural Investment Plan is being rolled out via five programmes: the development of agricultural and agro-industrial zones; product management

CHALLENGE I Sponsored supplement to The Africa Report n°76, December 2015-January 2016

and food security; research, development and training; good governance and strengthening human and institutional capacities; and adaptation to climate change.

DR CONGO THE FUTURE IN PROGRESS

Education is essential to development The government has implemented substantial programmes to improve access to primary education and health.

Rebuilding over 1,000 schools Launched in 2013, the Reconstruction and Renovation of School Infrastructure Programme (PRRIS) has now almost reached its goal of rehabilitating or rebuilding more than 1,000 primary schools across the country. The programme not only aims at providing pupils with adequate and sustainable

facilities, but also equipping the classrooms with the necessary furniture and the children with school materials, rehabilitating administrative buildings and creating recreational and sanitary spaces. PRRIS is an ambitious $100 million programme, funded by the state itself. To date, over 600 schools have already been built, rebuilt or renovated, including twenty in the city-province of Kinshasa. The PRRIS is being carried out in two phases to include 1,098 schools, in all, across the entire country. The second phase of the programme has

ÂŠ M.DEVEY MALU-MALU/J.A.

ue to the good results obtained from its macroeconomic policies, such as budget surpluses, consolidation of foreign exchange reserves and price stability, DR Congo is now in a position to fund education and health. State spending on education increased from 6% of the budget in 2007 to the current 35%. This is by far the highest budget allocation. The objective is to build the DR Congo of tomorrow, to ensure that it is

an emerging country by 2030, in accordance with the head of stateâ€™s vision for the country. Achieving this objective will come about mainly by boosting primary education and increasing the gross attendance rate for 6-11 year olds, which dropped to 51.7% in 2001.

More than 12 million children attend primary school each year (right). Secondary and higher education is orientated towards technical and vocational training (left).

ECONOMY

of free primary education and the enrolment of young girls. Between 2007 and 2012, the gross primary school attendance rate increased from 83.7% to 101%, while the number of pupils increased from 8.8 million to 12.6 million.

Lubumbashi School of Nursing.

Looking to the future

At the same time, the country is conducting an intensive programme to retrofit and equip hospitals in 277 health zones across the country. A state budget of 80 billion Congolese francs has been allocated to renovating, equipping and supplying medic ation to 200 general referral hospitals and 1,000 health centres in a first phase. Launched in 2013, the Health Facilities Equipment Project (PESS) aims to equip or rebuild a total of 5,400 hospitals and health centres throughout the country. As is the case for education, access to healthcare for the entire population is constantly improving.

already begun. Some of the key measures undertaken in recent years include, in particular, the gradual provision

As with all of DR Congo’s civil servants, teachers’ salaries are now paid straight into their bank accounts and the government is committed to ensuring flawless governance of the education sector. A new framework law on national education was enacted on 11 February 2014. For the government, education is no longer an option but a definite goal to be reached through the

enrolment of as many children as possible, including those in the most isolated areas.

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DR CONGO THE FUTURE IN PROGRESS

INFRASTRUCTURE

Speeding up development Developing transport infrastructure to better connect people and economic activities is a challenge in Africa’s second largest country. Yet, through sustained efforts, the gamble is set to pay off.

ome of the figures alone are extremely daunting. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the world’s twelfth largest country by area, half the size of Europe. It is crossed by two time zones. To better understand just how great the distances are when travelling across the country, here are some examples. The RN1 national highway running between Kinshasa, the capital, and Lubumbashi, the mining metropolis located at the southern end of the country, is 2,330 km long. That is twice the distance between Paris and Berlin. Travelling between Kinshasa and Goma, in the extreme east of the country, involves 2,700 km of road. Kisangani, in the centre of the country, is 1,200 km from the capital city as the crow flies, but more than 2,600 km on the existing roads.

DR Congo is the size of a continent – it’s as big as Greenland. All this gives a clearer idea of just how big a challenge rebuilding the transport infrastructure in a country this size represents. Added to this is the multifaceted aspect of the solution, as it includes the simultaneous improvement of road, rail, river and air transport.

Over 10,000 km of rehabilitated roads At the turn of the millennium, DR Congo’s infrastructure was in a state of severe disrepair. The Cinq Chantiers Programme, launched in 2006 by President Kabila, allowed for a raft of initial transport infrastructure achievements. The country’s reconstruction plan now

Launched in 2012, the Reunification of the Republic by Road (RRR) programme concerns the rehabilitation of 12,400 km of road over four years.

benefits from a multi-sectoral programme of priority investments, at an estimated cost of $11 billion. The transport component aims to create a real infrastructure grid built around the mining, agriculture and forestry production areas. Its objective is threefold: to connect provincial capitals, open up landlocked and remote areas and connect DR Congo to neighbouring countries by building corridors. In this context, the Reunification of the Republic by Road (RRR – Réunification de la République par Voie Routière) programme, launched in 2012, focuses on the rehabilitation of 12,400 km of dirt roads over four years at a cost of $101 million, to be borne by the State, and the renovation of 5,835 km of other roads,

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DR CONGO THE FUTURE IN PROGRESS

Fourth largest railway in Africa

The acquisition of 38 new trains in 2015 allows the SNCC to re-establish traffic between essential connections.

Taking into account the huge size of the country, the integrated architecture of DR Congo’s transport network obviously includes modes of transport other than road. DR Congo has the fourth largest rail network on the continent, with 4,000 km of track, of which 20% is electrified. Two types of programmes have been initiated for railways. The first comprises the rehabilitation of the tracks and other equipment and the second concerns the improvement of railway company

management, i.e. the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer du Congo (SNCC) and the railway from Kinshasa to Matadi, on the Atlantic coast. Ultimately, this line will be connected to Banana, a sea port, while the construction of a section between Dilolo, in the southern mining region, and the border with Angola, is also

funded by development partners. More than half of the programme has been completed.

ONE PRICE FITS ALL IN KINSHASA The DR Congo government has stepped in to exercise its authority in terms of urban transport in the city of Kinshasa which, alone, has nearly ten million inhabitants. Up until then, people were being transported in old vehicles that

were dangerously unroadworthy. With the setting up of a public transport company, Société Transport au Congo (Transco), and the introduction of new medium-sized buses dubbed “esprit de vie” (spirit of life), Kinshasa’s roads and their users

will benefit from safe and well-maintained public transport vehicles. Transco has over 500 buses, supplied by an internationally renowned manufacturer, which were paid for by the State. The focus is on

quality of transport and being able to travel anywhere in the city for the same price, regardless of the distance. Transco has also opted for promoting gender equality by hiring women drivers, which created quite a stir for road users in the capital.

INFRASTRUCTURE

ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANISATION DR Congo is divided into 26 provinces: Kinshasa, Bas-Uele, Équateur, Haut-Katanga, Haut-Lomami, Haut-Uele, Ituri, Kasaï, Kasaï Central, Kasaï Oriental, Kongo Central, Kwango, Kwilu, Lomami, Lualaba, MaiNdombe, Maniema, Mongala, Nord-Kivu, Nord-Ubangi, Sankuru, Sud-Kivu, SudUbangi, Tanganyika, Tshopo, Tshuapa. This administrative division, provided for in the 2006 Constitution, came into force in 2015. Previously, the country comprised 11provinces.

MAIN TOWNS Lubumbashi, Matadi, Mbuji-Mayi, Kananga, Mbandaka, Bandundu, Kisangani, Goma, Bukavu, Kindu

“KIN”, THE COSMOPOLITAN CAPITAL Kinshasa, the third biggest African metropolis, has over 10 million inhabitants. Here you will find not only every ethnic group in the country, but also people from all over Africa and the world. Kinshasa owes this multicultural community, unique in Africa, to its reputation as a welcoming and friendly city.

LUBUMBASHI, AN INDISPENSABLE CROSSROADS Lying 40 km north of Zambia, at the gateway to southern Africa, the country’s second largest city is well-known for its mining activities. Here, people do business in many different languages, yet it retains its air of a medium sized town, very lively but well behaved, that can be explored on foot or by bike.

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DR CONGO THE FUTURE IN PROGRESS

planned. Having ground to a halt more than a decade ago for lack of fully operational locomotives, the SNCC went back into business in 2015 with the acquisition of 38 trains, of which 20 were purchased with state funds and 18 were financed by the World Bank. The acquisition of these trains is a strong sign of the country’s determination to revive rail transport. The previous acquisition of new locomotives dates back to 1976. Of the 38 trains, 24 will serve the copper belt and northern areas, 10 will be allocated to the Great Lakes region and river-rail area and four will serve the Kisangani-Ubundu section. Traffic on this 125 km-long rail route resumed in 2012, as it is part of a comprehensive programme linking Kinshasa to Lubumbashi via Kisangani by river and rail.

The strategy for the recovery and strengthening of DR Congo’s transport sector relies on targeted investments to rehabilitate infrastructure and diversify modes of travel. The objective is to develop an integrated multimodal system combining rail, road and river to connect all economic centres of the country.

GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN THE HEART OF KINSHASA Consolidating all state services under one modern roof is a guarantee of efficiency. At the same time, installing ministers and their departments in state-owned offices worthy of their status also restores the dignity of the country through its

The year 2015 also saw the rehabilitation of the railway between the capital, Kinshasa, and the sea port of Matadi. Managed by the state transport agency, Société Commerciale des Transports et Ports (SCTP, previously

known as the Office National des Transports, or Onatra, before 2011), this 366 km stretch now offers an alternative to road transport for freight, as well as a safe and comfortable solution for passenger transport.

infrastructure. This dual objective was achieved in July 2015, when President Kabila officially opened the Government Building in the Kinshasa municipality of Gombe. This leafy residential and business district is already home to the Presidency, the National Palace, the Central Bank and several financial institutions. The brand new, ultramodern, nine-storey government building not only provides a working space for the various state departments but also rents out rooms for meetings and ceremonies. Opposite the building, seven other buildings were renovated to accommodate other state departments and services. The buildings are arranged around a square where, in the centre, the monument of National Unity draws tourists and citizens alike on a daily basis.

INFRASTRUCTURE

World class aviation upgrades

he development of air transport plays an important role in the national infrastructure renovation and modernisation scheme. DR Congo has 270 airfields and 5 international airports strategically located across its vast territory. Priority projects were implemented in 2011, for which the results are tangible today. They concern improving safety in aviation and the renovation of airport infrastructure in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Kisangani and Goma.

It offers excellent facilities to passengers, whether arriving or departing, such as security, assistance, spacious areas, fast baggage service and more and complies with all the regulations and standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The airport also has a new 32-metre high air control tower, which features a regional traffic control centre and a fire station.

Safety across the board is a priority Luano Airport in Lubumbashi is also equipped with a brand new control tower which, at 28 metres high, is six metres taller than the previous tower. Built in full compliance with international standards, it overlooks a completely renovated runway. This runway features a state-of-the-art

The new international terminals at the country’s biggest airports were opened in 2015, offering travellers safety, reliability and top class facilities.

Ndjili-Kinshasa operational since mid-2015

Covering an area of 10,000 m2 and with an annual capacity of a million passengers, the modular terminal at Ndjili-Kinshasa International Airport became operational in June 2015.

In 2011, priority projects were implemented for upgrading the international airports of NdjiliKinshasa (top), Lubumbashi, Kisangani and Goma (right).

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DR CONGO THE FUTURE IN PROGRESS

lighting system and, at 3,250 metres long, is able to easily accommodate large aircraft. On the safety side of things, a high-capacity generator has been installed to allow for take-off and landing by day and night, in good weather or bad. The airport also boasts a new, fully equipped fire station.

CONGO AIRWAYS FLYING HIGH The new national airline aims to provide a full domestic service and to fly to international destinations popular amongst DR Congo’s business and leisure travellers. Congo Airways, the new airline whose official inaugural flights took place on 9 October 2015, aims to provide a full domestic service to DR Congo travellers, with routes between all major cities. A few weeks later, the airline’s commercial flights, highly anticipated by business and leisure travellers, went into full operation, meeting the country’s demand for a regular and reliable domestic service which, up until then, had been severely lacking.

Goma now open to world travellers

Security and quality service During its first year of operation, Congo Airways is using two A320 Airbus aircraft, the Laurent-Désiré Kabila and the Patrice Emery Lumumba, and plans to acquire two more aircraft per year. Having established itself fully on domestic routes, it will begin operating regional flights to Johannesburg and Luanda in 2016. In the long term, Congo Airways plans to fly to Guangzhou, in China,

After the Ndjili and Lubumbashi airports, which were officially opened by President Joseph Kabila in June and July 2015, respectively, construction work began on that of Goma in Nord-Kivu province. The city will soon have a modern terminal building and the 3,000 metre-long runway, which had to be shortened due to lava flows when the Nyiragongo volcano erupted in 2002, was opened to international traffic in February 2015. Work is underway for its complete extension. As of now, travellers no longer need to go through neighbouring towns or the capital, Kinshasa, to fly out of the country. Flights to Asia and the Middle East are now available. As the main gateway to the entire eastern DR Congo and a vital link with the rest of the country, Goma is open to tourists and investors from around the world.

and Dubai, as well other international destinations most popular with DR Congo’s business and leisure travellers, while providing quality service that meets every international standard. To guarantee this level of safety and quality, Congo Airways has partnered with Air France Industries, which handles the technical aspects of the aircraft while guaranteeing technology transfer to local technicians. In the cockpits, priority is being given to the recruitment of DR Congo pilots, who are the bearers of the standard of excellence. The airline staff are directly involved in the national airline, holding 5% of the capital, alongside the state and other public and parastatal partners such as the local Investment Promotion Agency (FPI), the National Institute for Social Security (NISS), and the Airway Control Board (RVA). The contribution of these local partners demonstrates their confidence in the future of this airline.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Optimising river transport As the backbone of transport in the country, the Congo River and its tributaries offer over 14,000 km of waterways. The state is mobilising its resources to make the most of them.

R Congo’s transport system development scheme takes into account the need to develop a modern and productive agricultural sector and the river transport opportunities offered by 14,166 km of waterways on the Congo River and its tributaries. Several programmes are therefore focused on the rehabilitation of river ports and their connections with road, rail and airport infrastructure. All these modes of transport are currently undergoing modernisation and must be extended and linked together to achieve a multimodal network connecting production areas, consumer markets and seaports. The river development project concerns the renovation of several ports on the Congo River and that of Ilebo in the centre of the country. Lying at the highest navigable point of the Kasaï River, Ilebo is an important transport hub, connected to Kinshasa by river and to Lubumbashi by rail. Similarly, the lake ports of Moba, Kalemie and Kalundu on Lake Tanganyika, the longest

Matadi Port, at the Congo River mouth, is a hub for the country’s international trade. freshwater lake in the world (677 km), are being rehabilitated, providing an alternative to

road or rail transport between these cities. North of Kinshasa, a new port will be built

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DR CONGO THE FUTURE IN PROGRESS

In service since May 2015, the ITB Kokolo can transport over 400 passengers and 1,500 tons of cargo. in Maluku, which will be connected to the planned international market. These measures are complemented by the dredging and marking of the Congo River between Kisangani and Kinshasa and the Kasai River all the way to Ilebo.

in Kinshasa on 18 May 2015 after an initial connection to Kisangani. Former flagship of the countryâ€™s river fleet, the ITB Kogolo was renovated

Resumption of traffic on the Congo River

The Congo River, seen here, and its tributaries offer over 14,000 km of navigable waterways. 20

ÂŠ M.DEVEY MALU-MALU/J.A.

After more than a decade of absence, the ITB Kogolo went back into service, arriving

with public funds and once more sails the Congo River, carrying people and goods in the best conditions. It now has nine cold rooms, two family

INFRASTRUCTURE

The ITB Kokolo has the capacity to carry more than 400 passengers and 1,500 tons of cargo, equivalent to 40 freight cars or 53 semi-trailer trucks. The return to service of these vessels and the resumption of traffic on the Congo River and other main rivers will give local populations access to the rest of the country, facilitate the supply of fresh produce to urban dwellers and boost the revival of tourism. The biodiversity of the river presents enormous potential that should give rise to new economic opportunities. In addition, a maritime transport development programme includes the renovation and modernisation of the Matadi and Boma ports, on the Atlantic Ocean, and the construction of a deep water sea port at Banana. Located on either side of the Congo River mouth, these three port areas will be connected – Matadi and Boma by road, and Matadi and Banana by rail – allowing for a better distribution of traffic.

New commercial activities

THE CONGO RIVER

suites and a number of cabins offering different levels of comfort, a restaurant and a bar. The MB Gungu mail ship, another vessel belonging to the Société Commerciale des Transports et des Ports (SCTP), is now being renovated. It will resume its service in early 2016 along the tributaries of the Congo River and other large rivers.

Riverside recreation, in Kinshasa (above). A dugout canoe on the Congo river ; in the background, the Kisangani Cathedral. Along with the Nile and the Amazon, the Congo is one of the world’s rivers that has inspired countless legends and mysteries. A symbol of the national unity of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Congo River rises in the southeast of the

country and forms a huge loop that encompasses all the territory in its basin, which covers an area of 3.8 million km2. Running for 4,700 kilometres, the Congo River is the second longest river in Africa, after the Nile, outclassed only by the

CHALLENGE I Sponsored supplement to The Africa Report n°76, December 2015-January 2016

Amazon in terms of flow. Offering 14,166 kilometres of inland waterways, the Congo and its tributaries are a major asset to the country’s transport system and present huge hydroelectric, water supply and fisheries potential.

DR CONGO THE FUTURE IN PROGRESS

A third of the continent’s hydroelectric potential Key to economic development, but neglected for decades, electricity is now a major development priority for Kinshasa.

he Democratic Republic of Congo has hydropower resources estimated at 100,000 megawatts (MW) which is more than a third of the potential of the entire African continent. Several power plants are under construction or in the planning stages, the most emblematic being that of the Inga Falls on

the Congo River, about 250 km southwest of Kinshasa. Inga I and II, two plants belonging to national electricity company Société Nationale d’Électricité (SNEL), are undergoing renovation and will produce 1,775 MW when the work is completed in 2016.

The world’s biggest dam The future Inga III plant, for which feasibility studies are now complete, will initially provide an additional generation capacity of 4,800 MW. About half of the electricity

The extension of the Inga Hydroelectric Dam will triple DR Congo’s electricity generation capacity.

produced will be sold to South African partners and a quarter reserved for mining industries. The construction work, which will cost $8.4 billion, should begin in 2017. Ultimately, Inga III’s generation capacity could be increased to 7,800 MW, the equivalent of three nuclear power plants, without requiring the building of additional structures. Five other dams will follow in order to achieve “Grand Inga”, the world’s largest hydropower scheme, capable of generating 40,000 MW. Enough to forever change the energy situation on the continent.

INFRASTRUCTURE

850 MW and that in the southern mining regions at 500 MW. The projected overall demand could reach 4,000 MW in 2020 and 7,000 MW in 2030.

Liberalising electricity

Domestic demand for electricity will reach 4,000 MW by 2020. In the meantime, the country is making do with its current 2,520 MW electricity generation capacity, of which 87% comes from hydropower. Most of this is managed by SNEL, which operates three high-voltage interconnected transmission systems and three isolated networks. However,

only half of the installed capacity (1,400 MW) is available and the population’s rate of access to electricity remains limited, with strong disparities between urban (45% in the best cases) and rural areas (5%). The deficit on the western network (between Kinshasa and the ocean) is estimated at

To improve the situation, institutional measures were taken with the restructuring and modernisation of SNEL and the liberalisation of the electricity market (production, distribution, import and export) to private operators. The increase in electricity supply will come about via two types of projects, namely the rehabilitation of SNEL power plants and the construction of new infrastructure (power plants, power lines and distribution networks), some of which will be carried out under public-private partnerships, particularly with mining companies. The use of renewable energy and power saving are encouraged.

WATER EVERYWHERE AND FOR ALL access rate to 50% in cities and 30% in rural areas by 2020. To achieve this, rehabilitation and extension work on water production and distribution infrastructure is underway, particularly in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Matadi.

CHALLENGE I Sponsored supplement to The Africa Report n°76, December 2015-January 2016

Although the population’s rate of access to drinking water increased from 22% to 29% between 2005 and 2013, there are still enormous disparities between urban (37%) and rural areas (12%). The objective is to increase the

DR CONGO THE FUTURE IN PROGRESS

LAND AND PEOPLE

The Democratic Republic of Congo occupies a huge territory in the heart of Africa, the second largest country on the continent. Nature has been generous in giving it arable land, a tropical rainforest and abundant mineral wealth.

he vast Democratic Republic of Congo covers an area of 2.35 million km², straddling the equator. The second largest country in Africa, after Algeria, and the most populous country in Central Africa, with 70 million inhabitants, DR Congo is named after the Congo River, which forms a large loop of 4,700 km within its territory. It shares 10,292 km of borders with nine neighbours: Congo to the west, South Sudan

A country of superlatives

Zongo Falls, 150 km southwest of Kinshasa.

and Central African Republic to the north, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania to the east, and Zambia and Angola to the south. Its geographic location makes it a crossroads between Central Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa.

SECOND LARGEST DENSE FOREST IN THE WORLD Forests cover more than half of DR Congo. As one of Africa’s few forest areas to have survived the ice age, it is amazingly

diverse, ranging from mangroves to gallery forests, humid or dry dense forests, mountain forests and savannas.

They cover a total of 145.5 million hectares and include 85 million hectares of rainforests. The country possesses

CHALLENGE I Sponsored supplement to The Africa Report n°76, December 2015-January 2016

6% of the world’s tropical forests, 45% of Africa’s tropical forests and 65% of the Congo Basin forest.

DR CONGO THE FUTURE IN PROGRESS

From savanna to volcanoes

Abundant animal and plant species Featuring huge areas of biodiversity, the forests contain about 10,000 plant species, many of which have valuable medicinal properties, and 600 tree species, including ten or so precious woods such as iroko, ebony or wenge. The fauna is equally exceptional and diverse. Large herbivores (black buffalo, antelope, giraffe, elephant and

The south and centre, suitable for agriculture and livestock, form a high plateau covered with savanna woodlands and rich in minerals. Increasingly cool as we approach the South, the dry season is from June to late October, followed by a hot rainy season with temperatures of 30-35°C. This is interrupted by a short dry season in February. The north is covered by tropical rainforest, home to extraordinary fauna and flora. It is hot and humid with practically uninterrupted rains and, in addition to prolific logging and oil palm cultivation, there are substantial oil deposits. To the east, the rugged terrain consists of a range of volcanoes exceeding 5,000 metres in height, interrupted by a string of large lakes. While rich in minerals and hydrocarbons, it also provides the perfect conditions for livestock, fishing and agriculture. In the extreme west are 40 km of Atlantic coastline where the Congo River empties into the ocean after running its long course. From this coastal area in the west to the Ruwenzori Mountains in the east, where the Margherita Peak culminates at 5,109 metres, the lush vegetation extends into the central and southern savannas.

Some of the volcanoes in the east of the country exceed 5,000 metres in height.

LAND AND PEOPLE

zebra) live in herds in the savanna and woodland areas where carnivores (lion, leopard, jackal, and hyena) live in small groups, each with its own hunting ground. Of all the crocodile species encountered throughout the African continent, 95% can be found in DR Congo.

The Congo River and its tributaries, as well as a multitude of other rivers, some calm, others turbulent, flow through DR Congo, which possesses 13% of the planet’s fresh water. Forming a chain across the country are fifteen lakes, of which the biggest are those in the mountains that, with volcanoes, form the border with neighbouring countries in the east. One of these is Lake Tanganyika, the second largest African lake after Lake Victoria, and the second deepest in the world (1,470 metres) after Lake Baikal in Siberia. It is also the longest freshwater lake in the world (677 km). Others in the region are Lake Kivu which, at 1,460 metres above sea level, is the highest in Africa, Lake Albert and Lake Edward, connected by the Semliki and Nile tributaries. There are also numerous, wilder plateau and residual lakes, such as the Mweru, Tumba, Mai-Ndombe (black water), Kisale, Upemba, Mukamba and Fwa lakes.

Over 25 million hectares of protected areas DR Congo’s forest is also home to peoples who live off its resources and who, over the centuries, have forged

Lakes Victoria, Albert and Edward in the East

Lake Kivu, seen here from Goma, is the highest in Africa at 1,400 m above sea level.

true forest communities. To ensure the conservation of this rich but fragile biodiversity and preserve the foundations of a vanishing civilisation, huge swathes of land were declared protected areas. Covering about 25 million hectares, or 10.5% of the country, these protected areas include wildlife reserves and national parks (Virunga, Garamba, Kahuzi-Biega, Salonga, Upemba, Kundelungu, Maiko and Lomani), of which five are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. There are also specific conservation areas, such as the Kisantu, Eala and Kinshasa botanical gardens.

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DR CONGO THE FUTURE IN PROGRESS

Turning the page on a tormented history

hen Englishman Henry Stanley began his exploration of the deep Congo in the nineteenth century, what is now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo was home to large chiefdoms and political units such as the Kongo kingdom and the Luba, Lunda, Mangbetu and Zandé empires. Having entered the service of King Leopold II of Belgium in 1878, Stanley began setting up trading posts in the country on behalf of the monarchy. At the Berlin Conference, which was called to settle the division of Africa between the major Western powers, the Congo Free State was created in 1885 and recognised as the private property of the Belgian king. In 1908, under pressure from international opinion, Leopold II was forced to hand over Congo to the Belgian State. His reign in Congo was marred by extreme violence and looting.

In 2006 the country held the first free, fair and independent elections since 1960. 28

A different colonial system Belgium, which inherited a huge country eighty times larger than its European territory, set up a different colonial system to those established by France, Great Britain, Germany and Portugal in neighbouring African nations. Under this colonial system, Congo was never a

settlement. Brussels handled its administration and ensured its economic independence but delegated teaching, medical or infrastructure tasks to local entities of Belgian or European origin, including businesses, banks and missionaries. On the eve of independence, Congo’s territory was divided into six provinces – Leopoldville (now Kinshasa),

After the difficult times that seriously affected its economy, the country is resolutely turned towards peace as it builds its future.

LAND AND PEOPLE

President Joseph Kabila’s inauguration ceremony in Kinshasa, in 2011, was attended by traditional leaders.

Equateur, Province Orientale, Katanga, Kivu and Kasai – each under the authority of a governor and council.

The Mobutu years The Republic of Congo became independent on 30 June 1960, with Joseph Kasa-Vubu as head of state. The early years were marked by political unrest, the assassination of Prime Minister Patrice Emery Lumumba (17 January 1961), and various attempts at secession, especially in the

Katanga region. This period ended with the coup carried out by Joseph Désiré Mobutu on 24 November 1965. He established a presidential system that lasted 32 years. In 1971, his “authenticity” or “cultural decolonisation” policy led him to rename the river, the currency and the country, which became the Republic of Zaire (an old Portuguese word meaning “great river”). He also nationalised the economy. Over the years, rampant mismanagement and misappropriation of public funds and

goods led to the collapse of the economy and the state. The 1990s were marked by strong socio-political instability and looting that destroyed the economic fabric. In 1993, inflation reached 10,000% and traders were changing prices several times a day. In 1994, following events in neighbouring Rwanda, thousands of Hutu refugees flooded into eastern Zaire. On 17 May 1997 Mobutu was overthrown by the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo, led by Laurent Kabila and backed by Rwanda,

CHALLENGE I Sponsored supplement to The Africa Report n°76, December 2015-January 2016

DR CONGO THE FUTURE IN PROGRESS

Uganda and Burundi. Zaire became the Democratic Republic of Congo.

the UN Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) was mandated to ensure compliance.

The Third Republic

Laurent DesirĂŠ Kabila was assassinated on 16 January 2001 under suspicious circumstances. His son, Joseph Kabila, was made head of state. He found himself at the head of a country plagued by civil war, disrupted by fighting between legal and illegal armies and militias, and occupied by the MLC in the north and the RCD in the east. The new President of the DRC succeeded in setting out the conditions for inter-Congolese dialogue and restoring

In August 1998, Rwandan and Ugandan troops backing two rebel movements, the Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) and the Congolese Assembly for Democracy (RCD), began occupation of large parts of northern and eastern DR Congo. In 1999, a ceasefire was signed in Lusaka, Zambia, between the countries of the sub region. A UN peacekeeping mission, called

relations with the international community. On 30 June 2003 a transitional government of national unity was put in place, leading to the constitution of the Third Republic and the holding of presidential and legislative elections in 2006. This was the first free and open consultation since independence. Joseph Kabila Kabange won the presidential election with 58% of the vote in the second round and the coalition that supported him won the legislatives. Joseph Kabila was re-elected head of state in November 2011, with 48.9% of the vote in a single round election.

Kinshasaâ€™s main road is called Boulevard du 30 Juin in reference to its independence day.

LAND AND PEOPLE

A culturally rich and diverse nation

lmost half of DR Congo’s 70 million inhabitants are under 15 years of age. Excavations in mining areas and around the capital, Kinshasa, show that this territory is one of the oldest inhabited areas on earth. The Pygmies were the first people to live here and, during the second millennium BCE, were joined by the Bantu people, who lived in well-structured societies headed by ethnic chiefs. Out of these societies were born political systems, the most important of which was the Kingdom of Kongo. At the height of its existence in the fifteenth century, it covered part of the current DR Congo, Congo, Gabon and Angola.

Tribes, ethnic groups and languages Today, DR Congo’s population comprises 400 tribes, each with its own dialect. They can be grouped into four ethno-cultural groups: the Bangala in the northwest; the Bakasaï in the three Kasai provinces; the

DR Congo’s youthful population and its extreme physical and linguistic diversity make for a nation of extraordinary cultural vitality.

Of the country’s 70 million people, almost half are under the age of 15.

Bakongo in Bas-Congo (also known as Kongo Central) and part of Kwango; and the Baswahili living in the east and south of the country. More than half of the population belongs to the Bantu group. DR Congo also has several thousand pygmies living in the dense forest zone, the Sudanese people in the Ubangi and Uele basins, and the Nilotic people in the northeast of the country. Besides French, which is the official language, four local tongues are spoken in DR Congo, some of which are spoken elsewhere in the region. These are Kikongo, which is mainly spoken in BasCongo and Kwango, and also in Congo and Angola. Kiswahili

is spoken in the east, from Kisangani to Lubumbashi, as well as in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania. Tshiluba is spoken in both Kasai Provinces, while Lingala, prevalent in Kinshasa, Equateur Province and neighbouring Congo, is understood throughout the country. Most of DR Congo’s people are actively religious. Catholicism is the main religion, followed by Protestantism. The Muslim population lives mainly in Maniema Province. Kimbanguism, a syncretic religion founded in 1921 by Simon Kimbangu, a Protestant born in Bas-Congo, has a large number of followers. Evangelical

CHALLENGE I Sponsored supplement to The Africa Report n°76, December 2015-January 2016

DR CONGO THE FUTURE IN PROGRESS

worship has inspired revival churches across the country and, for the past fifteen years or so, has continued to attract more and more people.

Unique creativity The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the most outstanding centres of traditional art in Africa. In terms of sculpture, each province has its own specific and identifiable lines, forms and techniques. Some styles and movements have reached a degree of perfection recognised and admired around the world. Among these are Kongo art,

inventor of the Ntadi (plural mintadi), a traditional tomb stone, and Yaka art, known for its circumcision masks and traditional dances. The courtstyle art of the Kuba people focuses on royal portraits and celebrates the kingdom and enjoyment of life. Kuba masks feature geometric patterns in dazzling contrasts of colour, pattern and texture. The Chokwe are famous for their masks and their decoration of the royal thrones. Luba art is distinguished by its elaborate masks and objects celebrating the power of the empire. Today, DR Congo still boasts a great cultural vitality. Its

contemporary sculptors, like Liyolo and Freddy Tsimba, are just as talented as their ancestors. The country’s contemporary art is known worldwide. Its origin dates back to the 1920s, when the country was still a Belgian colony. Fifty years later, artists such as Chéri Samba, who has exhibited at some of the largest international shows, Chéri Chérin and Moke, as well as others inspired by daily life and events that the entire population can relate to. This artistic tradition is being continued by young painters today, like Dikisongele, Francis Mampuya and Séraphina Mbeya Nawej Matemb.

The Beauté Congo exhibition, an important piece of cultural life in Paris in 2015. Below, painter Chéri Samba’s work.

LAND AND PEOPLE

M b om o u

Mobayi

Bondo

Ou ban gu i

Aketi Lisala

Bumba

Kibali

Uélé Bambesa

Poko

Buta Rubi

Moto

Mungbere

A ru w i m i

O Kw ilu

Maluku

KINSHASA

k o ro

Kongolo

Kananga

Lulua

Ka s

o ang Kw

aï

Uranium Methane Oil Oil exploration Oil pipeline

INDUSTRY Cotton ginning Agribusiness Oil mill (palm oil) Chemicals

Lubudi

Koni

Kolwezi

Likasi

$ PP % LT ! igh Katanga # oppe" belt

Oil refinery Hydroelectric plant

Plastic

Inga-Katanga high-voltage cable

Mechanical

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AT A GLANCE Area

2.35 million km² Population

70 million Urban population

35%

Independence Day

Cement works

MIN S Copper and cobalt

Diamonds

30 June

Construction materials

Capital

Metallurgy

Gold

COMMUNICATIONS

Cassiterite and coltan

Railway

Niobium

Navigable waterways

Manganese

International Airport

Zinc

Commercial port

Lubumbashi

Kipushi

Timber Leather, textiles

Lake Tanganyika

Lake Moero

ira Luf

Dilolo

Coal

Kalémié

Luvu a

Luena Nzilo Kambove

N R Y

Kabalo Manono

Mukuka Kisenge Lukuka

300 km

Lukuga

ga Luku

Mbuji-Mayi

Tshikapa

Uvira

Sankuru

Moanda Matadi Banana Boma

ATLANTIC OCEAN

Ilebo

Kikwit

Zongo

Lake Kivu

Bukavu U lin

Kindu Lukénié

Kasa i

Goma

Kalima

Lu ala ba

Mushie Bandundu

Lowa

Punia

ma Lua

INGA

Lake Edward

Sukumakanga

i Lomam

Lo me l

Tshela

Lake Mai-Ndombe

Kwa

Ubundu

ap a

Lake Albert

di Lin

Ts hu

Lake Tumba

Kilo

Ituri

Kisangani

Mbandaka

Pool Malebo

Mahagi

CONGO

Kinshasa Population growth rate

3.6% per year

CHALLENGE I Sponsored supplement to The Africa Report n°76, December 2015-January 2016

GDP growth rate

8.9% (2014)

DR CONGO THE FUTURE IN PROGRESS

Like sculpture and painting, music occupies a special place in DR Congo’s traditional communities, with musical themes, melodies, rhythms and instruments varying according to ethnic groups and regions. Today, DRC’s modern music is one of Africa’s most famous and has drawn a huge international following. Rumba, ndombolo, soukouss, as well as Afrobeat and Tradi-Modern

– since the 1950s, DR Congo’s music has made more than one African sing and dance. Its pioneers were Tabuley-Rochereau, Grand Kalle, Luambo Makiadi Franco and Pepe Kalle, amongst others. The generation that followed brought icons such as Papa Wemba, Kanda Bongo, Tshala Muana, Defao, Sam Mangxana and Lokua Kanza. The current movement includes the likes of Koffi Olomide, Werrason and Fally Ipupa. Their concerts in Europe all draw huge audiences.

Musicians admired the world over

“BANA MBOKA” AND OKAPIS The gorilla, white rhinoceros, bonobo and okapi are the symbolic species of DR Congo. The bonobo and the okapi are endemic and found nowhere else. The bonobo, known as the “son of the country” or “mwana mboka” (plural bana mboka), is a small dwarf chimpanzee that lives south of the Congo River, deep in the tropical forest.

Gracile and slender, this tree-dwelling ape lives in small and relatively peaceful communities, led by dominant females. Its population is estimated at around 10,000. The okapi is found only in the northeast of the country, mainly in the Ituri region, where the Okapi Wildlife Reserve was established. This long-legged herbivore is as tall

and strong as a horse and as graceful as a deer, but is very shy and elusive. The horizontal stripes give it an almost zebralike appearance. However, its redbrown coat, deer-like head topped with small horns and its short tail remind us that the okapi is actually one of the last remaining ancestors of the giraffe.

Mural depicting the okapi which, along with the bonobo, is endemic to DR Congo.

LAND AND PEOPLE

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