top news stories from the drc, page-7

I would like to add a few words to our DRC discussion.

Kabila Jnr.(he is in his early 30s),appears to be better a leader (less corrupt) than his father Kabila Snr.I admit all this is relative in Congo.Jnr is accused of being a puppet for other interests.

Kabila Snr was again less corrupt than his predecessor Mobutu.So it seems at a glance a progression for the better.The good doctor quoted in Foreign Correspondent is also a politician,so I take his statements with a grain of salt (he also appeared genuine and honest).

Dikulushi is located in province of Katanga,capital Lumumbashi,in deep south-east,bordering with relatively stable Zambia.Distance between Dikulushi and DRC capital Kinshasa is about 1,500 km,with hardly any roads.From Dikulushi to noth-east town of Bunia,centre of recent massacres and unrest is,as the crow flies, about 1,200 km,with even less roads.DRC is a big country.

Province of Katanga is the richest part of DRC (mineral-wise) with fairly long history of mining,especially by Belgians (Congo used to be a Belgian colony).In the 1960s a low life by name Tchombe declared secession of Katanga from Congo (with the help of American CIA,since the then president Lumumba was friendly with the Soviets).Lumumba was later asassinated (and succeded) by president Mobutu (helped again by CIA),who was in turn chucked out,after decades of reign of terror and corruption,by Kabila Snr.

My point is,that Katanga is isolated from the rest of the country,far away from flash-points and relatively peaceful.Katangan economy (if any) is more oriented towards Zambia than the rest of DRC.

I hold AVL (and sleep like a baby).

Regards

Nous