Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
The South African Government regards the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a key country in Central Africa, the stability of which is important, not only for the region, but for our entire continent. Aside from bordering on nine other countries - including three SADC countries - the DRC is also blessed with an abundance of natural resources, such as important mineral deposits.
Following the outbreak of conflict in former Zaire towards the end of last year, the South African Government, for the reasons indicated above became actively involved in international efforts to bring about a negotiated solution to the crisis. South Africa in fact played a key role in this process, by facilitating talks between the government of former President Mobutu and the Alliance of current President Laurent Kabila.
After the forces of President Kabila had taken control of the country and the capital, Kinshasa, in May this year, South Africa was the first country which the new DRC Government called upon the assist it in the economic reconstruction of the country. The challenges faced by President Kabila and his colleagues in this regard were daunting after the extensive corruption and misrule which had ravaged the country during the previous thirty years and caused the collapse of the economy.
In response to a specific request by President Kabila to the South African Government, a delegation of South African experts, lead by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Aziz Pahad, visited the DRC on 24 and 25 June 1997. The delegation was composed of officials from the Office of the Deputy President, the South African Reserve Bank, the Development Bank of South Africa, the Department of Finance and the Department of Trade and Industry. The purpose of the mission was to examine possible areas where the South African Government could render advice and technical assistance to the new Government of President Kabila.
In order to carry out this mission, the delegation met with the President of the DRC, His Excellency Mr L Kabila, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr B Karaha, and the Ministers of Planning and Development, and of the Economy, Industry and Commerce, as well as with officials of the Central Bank.
During the meetings it became clear that the Government of the DRC intends embarking on extensive reconstruction programmes, especially in the areas of communication, infrastructure, agriculture, energy, in the form of mass rural electrification projects; social, educational and health projects; and industrialisation, which will concentrate on the manufacturing and mining sectors.
At the conclusion of the two-day visit, the South African Delegation returned to South Africa with the distinct impression that the new DRC Government was strongly committed to bringing about the economic reconstruction and development of the country. Coinci- ding with the above visit the DRC Minister of the Interior, Mr Kongolo and the Minister of Transport Mr Sakani, have been visiting South Africa for similar consultations.
After further consultation, the South African Delegation will make proposals to the South African Government and non-governmental institutions in this country on how to assist the DRC to attain these objectives. This will, inter alia, deal with issues such as monetary reform, restructuring of the Central Bank, the debt crisis, emerging grants and investment promotion.
The challenge facing the DRC can only be successfully met if there is a coordinated international effort to assist the country. The South African Government is convinced that this effort must be an African-led initiative. There is no doubt that tremendous oppor- tunities now exist for the South African Commercial sector in the DRC and their involvement will be encouraged within the framework of the proposals to be made by the above-mentioned delegation.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 26 JUNE 1997