DRC - Famine: Congolese government and United Nations agencies are already rubbing their hands

OPINIONS
DRC - Famine: Congolese government and United Nations agencies are already rubbing their hands
NBSInfos April 8, 2021

The World Food Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations are sounding the alarm that the DRC has "the largest number of people in urgent need of food aid in the world". And the situation is getting worse.
Tensions around the world are cooling as the Western economy and President Tshisekedi need a boost. This announcement could indeed be the solution for them.

The culprit behind the tragedy is neither the maligned conflict nor the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as these organizations want the world to believe. Rather, it is the mirror of a persistent lack of social and economic security for the Congolese.

The problem thus defined would lead to a sustainable approach to alleviating the crisis. Instead of dumping food and consultants into the worst affected areas, the money should be given directly to Congolese individuals and families who would buy the food locally, which in turn would boost the local economy or local entrepreneurs. 

It is difficult to see this happening given the nature of the main actors, the Congolese government and United Nations agencies, and the appetites of local social and economic actors raving about crumbs.
Again, as in Beni at the moment, influencing international policies and agendas, regardless of what the government does or does not do, is a practice that the Congolese are increasingly applying in many parts of the country.
Jo M. Sekimonyo
Author, political economist and philosopher