The Democratic Republic of the Congo is two thirds the size of western Europe. The country boasts huge reserves of gold, some 30% of the world’s diamond reserves, more than 70% of the valuable coltan mineral, a vital ingredient in mobile phones and vast deposits of cobalt, copper and bauxite, not to mention oil! This vast and rich country has the potential to become “the country of the future” says my guest H.E Ben M’poko, Ambassador of the DR Congo and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in South Africa. So, what is hampering its development ? Is all this wealth benefiting the population? How have things improved since the Congolese went to the polls for the first time since independence in 2006? Tune in to this edition of “Tam Tam Express” as we explore the challenges facing Africa’s development and turn our focus on the DRC!
