Introduction
While world economies are affected by a range of problems, some have remained entrenched in countries, impending national and regional growth. Some of the challenges are political instability, poverty, disease, and corruption. These problems are inter-connected in that one leads to another, and if unchecked, may cause the collapse of an entire nation. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the countries richly endowed with natural resources but has remained poor over the years. Corruption is rampant and entrenched in DRC, impeding the country’s socio-economic and political growth and hindering regional collaboration and growth.
Geographic location, population, recent history
The Democratic Republic of Congo is a country in central Africa. It has a 25-mile (40-km) Atlantic Ocean coastline but is otherwise landlocked. The DRC is nearly three times the size of Turkey, or slightly less than one-fourth the size of the United States, with an area of 2,344,858 km2 (“CIA – The World Factbook – The Democratic Republic of Congo,” 2021). It is Africa’s second-largest country after Algeria and has several presidents to date. The DRC is one of Africa’s most powerful countries, with the second-largest surface area and a population of about 67 million people. It has significant resources of industrial diamonds, copper, cobalt, one of Africa’s greatest forest reserves, and over half of its hydroelectric potential.
Since it occupies such a large portion of the continent, its continuous growth affects the country and the development of the sub-region. The DRC has steadily restored its stability after more than a decade of regional hostilities since the Pretoria Accord was signed in 2002. The economy has stalled as a result of a protracted period of violence, and the country’s living standard is among the lowest in the world, as measured by GNI per capita, which was $220 in 2012 (“CIA – The World Factbook – The Democratic Republic of Congo,” 2021).
The Democratic Republic of Congo boasts the world’s third-largest poor population. Poverty is widespread and entrenched in the DRC, and it is growing as a result of COVID-19’s effects. In 2018, 73 percent of the Congolese population were expected to live on less than $1.90 a day (Titeca & Edmond, 2019). As a result, DRC is home to one out of every six persons living in extreme poverty in Africa.
The Political Regime Variables
The DRC’s political system politics is shaped by the transition from a civil conflict to semi-presidentialism. A victorious national referendum on a draft constitution was held on the 18th and 19th of December 2005, setting the path for elections in 2006 (Titeca & Edmond, 2019). With backing from the UN mission in the Congo, the Congolese Independent Electoral Commission supported and supervised the voting process, which was technically challenging due to a lack of facilities. According to early UN reports, the election was mostly calm, although it sparked unrest in several sections of the war-torn east and the Kasais.
Many Congolese protested in 2006 that the constitution was vague and that they were uninformed of its contents. This is due in part to the country’s high illiteracy rates. On the other hand, Interim President Kabila urged Congolese to vote ‘Yes,’ claiming that the constitution represents the country’s best hope for future peace. The two-day election drew a total of 25 million Congolese voters (“CIA – The World Factbook – The Democratic Republic of Congo,” 2021). The constitution was accepted by 84 percent of voters, according to results revealed in January 2006.
Democratization in the DRC is largely based on external pressure, making it subject to authoritarian drift. According to Titeca and Edmond (2019), the DRC’s political regime does not satisfy the minimum standards for democracy. Therefore, it is more correctly described as competitive authoritarian based on the democratic contestation formed through the legislature, judiciary, media, and electoral arena. The political system in the DRC has played a major role in the increase of corruption within the country. Despite the deployment of UN forces and the recent ratification of a new constitution that prepared the door for elections in April, the country remains a humanitarian crisis.
The Main Challenge-Corruption
For years, the power struggle has been a problem in the DRC, with every leader aspiring to control every sector. The main challenges that have impacted DRC’s democratic representation and economic development are corruption and civil conflict. The civil war led to many deaths and loss of property, limiting the country’s economic progress. Corruption has remained a significant challenge in many socio-economic and political systems. Titeca and Edmond (2019) argue that the main disaster in DRC is that of corruption and civil war. Corruption in the country has continued to cripple democracy and inhibit economic growth. Mobutu and Kabila’s leadership represented the most corrupt regimes in the political sector, whose effects are still evident today.
From 1965 to 1997, Mobutu controlled Zaire, squandering the country’s resources for personal gain to the point where detractors created the term “kleptocracy.” To keep political rivals from challenging his power, he institutionalized corruption, which led to the country’s economic collapse in 1996 (Titeca & Edmond, 2019). While in power, Mobutu is accused of stealing up to $4 billion (“CIA – The World Factbook – The Democratic Republic of Congo,” 2021). Laurent Kabila spearheaded an insurgency against Mobutu and immediately gained control after Mobutu was deposed. During this time, Kabila issued a statement declaring himself president and assuming near-absolute control of the government. Kabila’s and his government’s ambitions for the regime were characterized by greed vs. grievances.
Fearing that the country would revert to “Mobutuism,” Kabila refused immediate polls and proceeded to postpone scheduled elections, impeding the exercise of authority by the electoral system. The constitution remained unchanged, and he and his peers took advantage of resources for their own gain. Laurent Kabila established a system that encouraged corruption by promoting his friends to positions in the cabinet. The DRC has unable to emerge from its “collapsed state” condition that it had when Mobutu was in power under the Kabila administration (“CIA – The World Factbook – The Democratic Republic of Congo,” 2021).
The economy plunged, forcing employees to be underpaid and living standards to worsen. Although Kabila no longer holds the presidency, his Common Front for Congo coalition dominates both houses of parliament, giving him significant political clout in the country’s legislature.
Causes of Corruption
The collective action theory can explain the causes of systemic corruption in the DRC. According to Marquette and Peiffer (2017), people may be less motivated to resist corruption or take the initial move toward enacting sanctions or reforms if it is perceived as “normal.” Problems with collective action are sometimes purposefully created and perpetuated in order to weaken the effectiveness of anti-corruption mechanisms. Mobutu’s corrupt leadership was extended by Kabila, who felt that another leader would do the same in that position (“CIA – The World Factbook – The Democratic Republic of Congo,” 2021). It was considered a normal practice, and people were unprepared to protest against it during Kabila’s leadership.
Corruption, fraud, and secrecy have continued to thrive in the mining sector due to the desire for control. A large amount of copper and cobalt is extracted informally and illegally exported. Officials from the government actively collaborate with trade enterprises to twist regulatory procedures and avoid paying taxes (Titeca & Edmond, 2019). Profits are going to a small but powerful group of politicians and merchants plundering the locals and distorting natural resources for their personal gain.
Conclusion
In conclusion, corruption has remained a significant problem in many countries. The DRC has the second-largest surface area in Africa, yet it has been rated among the poorest economies. Political leaders plagued the transition from the civil war to democratization, with their aim being to plunder the country’s resources for personal gain. Democracy in the DRC is more influenced by external forces than internal motivation for change.
Throughout Mobutu and Kabila’s presidencies, the country has lost a considerable amount of money through corruption, which could have facilitated economic recovery. The mining sector also suffers from corrupt leaders’ domination of the extraction and marketing aspects, leaving workers poor and the country underdeveloped. Due to the country’s large surface area, the second in Africa after Algeria, corruption has significantly reduced economic development in the African continent. Despite the formulation of laws and constitutional reforms, systemic corruption has continued to plague the country.
References
CIA – The World Factbook – The democratic Republic of Congo (2021). Web.
Marquette, H., & Peiffer, C. (2017). Grappling with the “real politics” of systemic corruption: Theoretical debates versus “real-world” functions. Governance, 31(3), 499-514. Web.
Titeca, K., & Edmond, P. (2019). The political economy of oil in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Corruption and regime control. The Extractive Industries and Society, 6(2), 542-551. Web.