DR Congo: Cursed by its natural wealth

Dan Snow answered readers’ questions on Twitter, external using #AskDanSnow. Here is a selection.

Q: Did you ever feel in real danger?

A: Shots were fired when we were on the frontline, but the biggest threat was terrible roads and bad vehicles

Q: Why go back to 1500s and ignore the devastating role of revolutionary movements in destabilizing Congo the last 50 years?

A: We tried to do both. The problems of the recent past are children of the more distant history.

Q: Why haven’t western nations shown greater interest in stabilising DRC considering its mineral wealth?

A: Sadly I think leaders think it’s a massive, insoluble problem that they don’t understand in a far away land.

Q: How do you see these countries getting out of this situation?

A: Rwanda succeeded in massive reduction in poverty, and development of infrastructure. It requires totally different leadership.

Q: I visited DRC in 2012. Why are people so unaware of the negative impact of Western Europeans (and now China too)?

A: It is a blind spot for us. I just don’t know why. Perhaps we don’t like to dwell on our failures.

Q: What advice do you have for businesses intending to invest in the country?

A: Have impeccable local political contacts, or don’t even try.

Q: Do you think the war in Congo is the obstacle to the country’s poor utilization of it natural resources?

A: Warlords control access to the resources and the bigger, more responsible mining firms will not risk the investment.

Q: Is poverty in such a rich nation caused by greedy Congolese leaders or post-colonial powers?

A: Nationality of the rulers hasn’t mattered much, they’ve all behaved the same. The potential wealth has corrupted all of them.

Q: How difficult was it to travel through the Democratic Republic of Congo?

A: Exceptionally. Roads collapsed, bandits own the night, no road travel between the major cities.

Q: How can we help the Congolese people to benefit from their own natural resources?

A: We can pressure international players in the resources extraction industry to be more transparent.

Q: If you could pick just one thing to change in Congo, what would it be?

A: The rule of law. People need protection when rights are violated, to start businesses and to find out where the money goes.

And finally. The Um Bongo thing. Everybody asks. Mbongo in a local language means money. So kids in the street shout it at you all the time.