Democratic Republic of the Congo: Professor Bongongo analyzes structural crises

Professor Michel Bongongo, a former minister in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has provided a diagnostic of the country's structural crises. He identifies three recurring factors since independence in 1960: the constant allure of the nation's vast natural resources, the establishment of predation as a mechanism of power by successive leaders, and increasing social injustice.

Bongongo notes that this cycle of corruption and embezzlement fuels public discontent, insecurity, and the rise of armed groups. He distinguishes a newer, aggravating factor following the era of Mobutu: external aggression, specifically from Rwanda, which has led to the prolonged occupation of certain provinces and increased suffering for the Congolese population. He emphasizes that the responsibility for these failures lies collectively with the political class rather than any single leader.