Hardly arrived at the Democratic Republic of Congothe Pope Francisco He referred to the economic exploitation suffered by the continent: “Stop suffocating it, because Africa is not a mine to be exploited or a land to be plundered.”
In his speech before the authorities at the Palace of the Nation in Kinshasa, the capital of DR Congo, the Supreme Pontiff called for “Africa to be the protagonist of its own destiny.” And he added: “It is tragic that these places, and more generally the African continent, continue to suffer various forms of exploitation.”
In line with what he had been proposing, he expressed that “after political colonialism, an equally enslaving economic colonialism has been unleashed.” He described the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a country “abundantly depredated, which is not able to benefit sufficiently from its immense resources.”
“Stop suffocating it, because Africa is not a mine to be exploited or a land to be plundered”
In relation to the diamond business He stressed: “The paradox has been reached that the fruits of his own land make him a foreigner for its inhabitants.” In addition, he challenged that complicit population in the business: “The poison of greed has bloodied your diamonds. It is a drama to which the most economically advanced world tends to close its eyes, ears and mouth. However, this country and this continent deserve to be respected and heard, they deserve space and attention,” the Italian news agency ANSA published.
According to the Vatican website, Pope Francis’ wish for his 40th international trip is to bring a message of peace and reconciliation to that country plagued by violence and misery. DR Congo is the largest Catholic country on that continent.
Two thirds of the inhabitants of DR Congo live on less than $2.15 a day
Congo data
Located between the five poorest countries in the world, DR Congo has approximately 100 million inhabitants, two-thirds of whom live on less than $2.15 a day. The African country has been facing for months the resurgence of the M23 armed group, which has conquered large swaths of the territory of North Kivu, a province bordering Rwanda, which the DRC government accuses of interference.
For this Friday, it is agreed that Francis will travel to Juba, the capital of South Sudan, where he will remain until next Sunday, as reported by the Vatican News.
NT / ED
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