By Jacquie BOMELA YENGA*
June 30, 1960, is a date engraved in the history of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), marking the country’s independence after decades of Belgian colonisation.
This historic day saw Patrice Emery Lumumba, an emblematic figure of the struggle for independence and first prime minister of Congo, deliver a memorable speech; rejecting the condescension of the colonizers and affirming the dignity and sovereignty of the Congolese people.
Independence was supposed to pave the way for a new era of prosperity, freedom and development for the Congolese.
However, are the Congolese really independent today? Sixty-five years down the line, the question asked by Jacquie BOMELA YENGA is more relevant than ever: can the inhabitants of the DRC really consider themselves independent? The answer is complex and nuanced.
Formally, the DRC is a sovereign state with its own institutions, flag and leaders. However, in socio-economic and security aspects, independence remains a fallacy for many Congolese. The country has been the scene of devastating armed conflicts, recurrent political crises and endemic poverty affecting a large part of the population.
Infrastructure is often rudimentary, access to basic services such as education and healthcare is limited in many regions, and corruption remains a pervasive problem. In this context, it is challenging for many to fully appreciate the benefits of independence, as desired by their elders.
Minerals: Blessing or curse?
The mineral deposits of the DRC are spread across an abundant supply of cobalt, copper, coltan, gold, diamonds, and other precious minerals; all of which are essential to the global economy.
Under normal circumstances, these minerals should have been a source of emergence and development for the country. On the contrary, they have become a major source of conflict, particularly in the eastern part of the country.
Several factors explain this tragic situation :
- External and internal greed: The value of minerals fuels the greed, both of local and foreign armed groups and of certain state and private actors, making the region unstable.
- State weakness: The limited capacity of the Congolese state to control its entire territory and regulate mining has created a vacuum that armed groups exploit to finance their activities.
- The involvement of regional and international actors: Reports have often highlighted the involvement of neighbouring countries and multinationals in the illicit trade of these minerals, thus fuelling conflicts.
- Human rights violations: The illegal exploitation of minerals is often accompanied by massive human rights violations, including forced and child labour, sexual violence and population displacement.
This situation has created a paradox where the wealth of Congolese soil generates misery and violence for its inhabitants.
Can The recent agreement lead to lasting peace?
The agreement signed on June 27, 2025, in the United States between the DRC and Rwanda, in the presence of President Donald Trump, is a significant event. The intervention of American diplomacy, with the objective of bringing the two countries closer together in often tense relations, could potentially open new perspectives.
However, the question of whether the Congolese can hope for a lasting peace is a very complex one. Such agreements, although necessary, do not in themselves guarantee peace on the ground. The recent history of the region shows that commitments made at the highest level do not always translate into tangible improvement for the populations.
For such an agreement to bear fruit and lead to a lasting peace, several conditions must be met:
- A real and sustained political will on the part of both governments to implement the terms of the agreement.
- Robust verification and monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance with commitments.
- Demobilisation and reintegration of armed groups is a major and costly challenge.
- Addressing the root causes of conflict, including natural resource management, land tenure issues and ethnic tensions.
- The involvement and support of local communities, who are the first victims of conflicts and the first beneficiaries of peace.
Optimism should be balanced with realism. If this agreement is an important step, the construction of a lasting peace in the DRC will require a continuous commitment, profound reforms, and sincere cooperation from all actors, that is, national, regional, and international.
Jacquie BOMELA YENGA expresses the legitimate questions by millions of Congolese who aspire to a better life and dream of celebrating their independence in peace and prosperity.
*Jacquie BOMELA YENGA is a Researcher at the Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
