Hi, this maybe a bit off-topic, but I´m currently writing a paper on resource politics/management in the D.R. Congo. I´m especially interested in the 2007 “Memorandum of Understanding” between the Congolese government and parastatal Chinese companies and its following agreements/renegotiations and the differences of the Chinese approach to the resource politics of Western countries/companies.
My first question is, if the infrastructure projects promised by the Chinese contractors are really happening and if yes, do they really benefit the Congolese population or rather just help advance the exploitation of Congolese minerals and corruption of Congolese government officials.
It would really help me, if you could tell, if there is an impact of this contract on improving the lives of the population and/or the overall situation, because it´s hard to gather any information for the recent years.
Also if there is an impact, what does the Congolese population think of the Chinese approach to development politics, in exchange for resources, and do they hold it in a higher regard than to what Western companies have been doing in the past? Are the Chinese companies really acting differently in terms of basic human and environmental rights?
My second question is, if it is advisable and safe to do a study trip to D.R. Congo? I would really like to visit the southern province Katanga? I´ve heard the situation in Kinshasa alone is not the best for foreigners, especially Europeans, let alone any other parts of the country.
To be on topic, does the fighting in the Kivu provinces effect mining and foreign buisnesses and what is the general stance of those militias/rebels on foreigner companies?
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