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Published 1st February 2010

Vol 3 (AAC) No 4

Congo-Kinshasa

Kinshasa’s missing millions

Image courtesy of Panos Pictures
Image courtesy of Panos Pictures

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Evidence of grand corruption mounts in Beijing’s showcase $6 billion barter deal with the Kinshasa government

Over US$23 million in signature bonuses payable on China’s $6 billion Sino-Congolaise des Mines (Sicomines) deal with the Kinshasa government have been stolen according to a probe by a commission set up by the National Assembly. The stolen monies were part of some $50 mn. that Chinese companies were due to have paid to Congo’s mining parastatal, Gécamines, the Commission Economique et Financière reported in late January. These findings follow growing concerns in recent weeks about the accountability of natural resource deals by Chinese companies in Angola and Kazakhstan. Ahead of national elections in 2011, Congo’s President Joseph Kabila is demanding better value for money: more jobs for Congolese workers and fewer imported Chinese workers.

RITES not right

Image courtesy of Panos Pictures

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The renovation of Tanzania’s dilapidated railways stalls due to a dispute between the government and its Indian partners

The Rail India Technical and Economic Services buyout of 51% of Tanzania’s national railway company is set to collapse this month. In March 2006, RITES agreed to buy part of the ...

Untoward Indian tillers

A US$40 million concessionary loan from the Indian government is mired in delays, a legal review and accusations of corruption. Moreover, the mix of army-owned enterprises, tied ...

Beijing's builders are back

The on-again off-again plan to renovate the railway linking coastal Lagos to Kano in the north may formally start up this year, but questions about the validity of any contract s...

Asian national minnows

Emulating their bigger Chinese and Indian counterparts, smaller Asian oil companies are forming partnerships to buy up African oil blocks

Smaller Asian energy companies are intensifying their exploration and production efforts in Africa, following in the wake of the Indian and Chinese oil and gas giants. Pakistani,...

Anti-Asian strength in numbers

There is a long way to go before the 2011 national polls, but the current political jockeying in Zambia would give any visitor the impression that the election is to be held next...

Tullow takes Lake Albert

The Ugandan government has approved Tullow’s bid for Heritage’s stakes in Lake Albert, allowing the Irish company to work with CNOOC

In February, after months of political jockeying, Tullow gained control of all of the oil under Lake Albert, allowing it to bring in its preferred partner, the China National Off...

Pointers

Donald Kaberuka

President, African Development Bank

As President of the African Development Bank, Donald Kaberuka received red-carpet treatment on his visit to China on 3-6 February. A troop of dignitaries turned out to welcome him:...

Anil Agarwal

Chairman, Vedanta Resources, India

Chinese investment may attract the ire of the Zambian opposition (see Briefing), but it is an Indian company that operates Zambia’s largest copper mine. Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta R...

Kim Hyong-o

National Assembly Speaker, South Korea

The January trip to North Africa of South Korea’s Kim Hyong-o served two main objectives – to promote trade and to lay the groundwork for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations...

Evariste Boshab

President, National Assembly, Congo-Kinshasa

Evariste Boshab, Secretary General of the ruling Parti du Peuple pour la Reconstruction et la Démocratie, has become an essential contact for Congo-courting diplomats, particularly...

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