Criticizing China, which “controls most of the mining operations in the DRC”, Daleep Singh, US deputy national security adviser, defended what he called a “different development model” proposed by the United States.
© Marc Hofer / AP / SIPA
A Congolese worker in a cassiterite mine in Nyabibwe, eastern DRC (illustration).
“For too long the great wealth of the DRC has not translated into a better quality of life for the Congolese,” Daleep Singh, US deputy national security adviser, told reporters on a visit to the DRC capital where he met friday President Felix Tshisekedi. According to him, “generations of investors have exploited the minerals of the DRC without anything in return in terms of decent jobs, schools, hospitals, roads…”.
“Closer” ties with Washington
Félix Tshisekedi, in power for three years in the DRC, wished “closer ties” with the United States, underlined Daleep Singh, who says he perceives “an opportunity for change in the DRC”.
“We are here to offer a different development model, which begins with democratic values, transparency, sustainability…”, he assured, emphasizing the role in this “model” of the American private sector.
“The DRC is particularly rich in the minerals needed for the clean energy revolution. (…) We want to invest in this transformation”, he continued, referring to the country’s reserves of cobalt and lithium, in particular.
“It is a fact that China controls most of the mining operations in the DRC,” said the deputy adviser, in response to the question whether if he was targeting Beijing in his introductory remark. “It is also a fact that many contracts signed in the mining industry are opaque and coercive,” he said.
Market access
“We would like to give the DRC a choice”, he insisted, a choice which “respects Congolese law”, “which pays royalties”, “which recruits and trains Congolese employees”, “which shares the profits with local communities”, “which gives more people a dignified life”, he listed.
“We are not asking the Congolese government to choose between the United States and China, but we believe, if I may say so, that we have a better product,” he said, calling for “market access on a competitive basis.
“We made this request on this trip (to Kinshasa) and I am encouraged by the response,” he added.
With AFP