Congo, Corruption, and China

 The Sentry published in November 2021 a study titled "The Backchannel: State Capture and Bribery in Congo's Deal of the Century."

DRC state enterprises used a middleman with accounts at the bank run by former President Kabila's brother to pump tens of millions of dollars into the pockets of the Kabila family, their associates, and businesses at crucial junctures in what are known as the Sicomines agreements.  Chinese corporations colluded with power plays in the DRC to secure access to billions of dollars' worth of natural resources.  

China Scales Down Investment in Democratic Republic of Congo

Foreign Policy published on 27 June 2018 an article titled "The Belt and Road Bubble Is Starting to Burst" by David G. Landry, international development consultant.

In 2007, the DRC signed a resource-for-infrastructure deal originally valued at $9 billion with a consortium of Chinese companies. The Chinese consortium misjudged the market it was entering and the project has been scaled back significantly. The author suggests the project is part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), although it predates announcement of the BRI.

The Congo, Cobalt, and China

Lima Charlie News posted on 4 February 2018 an article titled "Cobalt Mining, China, and the Fight for Congo's Minerals" by Lima Charlie.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) holds half the world's cobalt reserves, a key component of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that power iPhones and electric cars. China is a major importer of DRC cobalt as it tries to become the world's leader in electric car production. The DRC has proposed to raise taxes five fold on the metal in order to increase revenue. Chinese and other importers of cobalt are protesting vigorously.