Vol 38 No 25

Published 19th December 1997

CONGO-KINSHASA

Best friends, friends and foes

19th December 1997

With little foreign aid to rebuild the country's shattered economy, the Kabila government will have to rely on private capital

The project to reconstruct Central Africa is moving painfully slowly and with very little money, over six months after the overthrow of Mobutu Sese Seko’s regime spurred hopes of a revitalised Congo. While Laurent-Désiré Kabila’s government has almost unequivocal backing from its neighbours (apart from Sudan) Western states are less convinced. They won’t finance a major reconstruction programme or even offer substantial forgiveness on the US$14.5 billion foreign debt (most of which was squandered by the Mobutu regime when it was a key Cold War ally). Instead, the West, along with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, wants a gradualist approach premised on the Kabila government’s progress in economic and political reform.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 1932 words.

End of preview

Subscribers: Log in now to read the complete article.

Account Holders: Log in now and use your Account Credit to buy this article. No Credit? Top up your Account now.

Forgotten password?

If you are logged in, but still cannot access the full text of this article, email customer services or telephone us on +44(0)1638 743633.

Africa Confidential's reporting and analysis is valued by a wide range of organisations and individuals: from corporate executives, country risk analysts, national politicians and members of the diplomatic corps, to intelligence operatives, academics, journalists and NGO personnel.

Here's what our readers say about us:

"If you want the detail and you want the dirt, the little blue newsletter [Africa Confidential] that drops through your letter box is like having your own private spook who knows Africa inside out and who's also one hell of a gossip."
Jonathan Miller, Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Channel 4 News, London, UK

"Since the demise of reporting on Africa in Western newspapers, and especially in the UK, in recent years, Africa Confidential has become ever more indispensable to anyone trying to make sense of the continent.

It provides the context one needs to understand vast changes Sudan has undergone since the signing of the peace agreement in 2005 and the explosion of conflict in Darfur.

The scope of its coverage of everything from the latest mining deals and rebel uprisings in the Democratic Republic of Congo to the political crisis in Kenya since the 2007 election is simply unparalleled."
Karl Maier, Africa & Middle East Editor, Bloomberg News

"We regard Africa Confidential as one of our best and most reliable sources of information and analysis." Intelligence Assessment Service, Privy Council Office, Government of Canada

"You are the best reporter on Africa alive. I look forward to your Intel."

Robert Stewart, CEO, Hawk Uranium Inc., USA

"In short: it is excellent! Very informative and interesting. Also well organised and easy to browse through and access to the different articles."
Lt. Col. Daniel Martella, Military Planning Service, Department of Peacekeeping Operations, United Nations

Vol 38 No 25

Best friends, friends and foes

With little foreign aid to rebuild the country's shattered economy, the Kabila government will have to rely on private capital

End of preview

Not a subscriber?

1. Subscribe

2. Use my account

3. Buy this article

Stories by country