Diplomatic World nummer 54

Shack village by the Congo river, Democratic Republic of Congo. July 2015
© Shutterstock
Some of the tension within the Congo is related to the
tension around the borders. I believe that one country
cannot concentrate on developing if it is constantly at
war with its neighbour. So, I want to put the past behind
us and start a new relationship with the neighbouring
countries. I would like to create an environment of trust
and a working relationship with all nine neighbours. We
have had our differences, and we are not going to heal
them overnight. But I’m willing to work with every single
country surrounding the Congo to create a security zone
for all of us, so we all feel comfortable and our resources
are not spent on fighting a war. Instead, our resources will
be spent on common development. The Congo will have
to develop, and so will the other countries.
They will have to create opportunities for their people,
just like we do. Then, we can all develop at the same time.
In the context of the Marshall Plan I’m presenting, there
is one component about building the major infrastructure
within the country, like the road network and the railroad
network. When looking at the map we have prepared
for that, you’ll see that you cannot develop those road,
highway and railroad networks to go from one place to
another if they have to suddenly stop at the border. The
networks have to continue in the surrounding countries.
Thus, the impact of the implementation of the Marshall
Plan in the Congo is going to be felt in all surrounding
countries. We have to think about our bilateral relations,
in terms of regional integration, so we are all growing and
not pushing each other down to climb up. This results in
tension between countries and wars in some cases. We
have to work together.
Do you think it is feasible to address all these
issues with the future leading team in the Congo
and the international community? And the
population itself?
I believe we don’t only need a critical mass of people,
but we need to mobilize literally everybody. This is why
I have been spending a lot of time with the diaspora in
Belgium, France, the U.S., South Africa and Canada,
and the people in the Congo. I will be going to places
where there are a lot of Congolese to try to get them
to understand that this vision isn’t mine alone. It’s the
vision for the country. If we will implement it, it will
transform the country for everyone and not only for me.
So. it’s very important to mobilize both Congolese people
in the diaspora and in the Congo. In addition to that, I
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