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oil geopolitics

Money also sealed the deal through less In 2009, a variety of Congolese discourage any potential Congolese action
secretive means. For example, the JIZ government officials and parliamentarians on the matter. In recent years, Angola
agreement also included the provision of even passed legislation regarding the has reduced its security role in the DRC,
oil rights to a company called Nessergy. DRC’s claims to the oil fields. President especially under President João Lourenço.
This outfit, closely connected to friends Kabila went along with these efforts for a But as its hard-nosed policy against
of the Kabila regime, promptly sold on while and signed a law that laid claim to Cabindan separatists shows, Angola will
these rights for three hundred times the the disputed zone. But the issue was then continue to protect its core interests by
original price. More generally, the JIZ deal hushed up and the legislation sat unused. any means necessary.
was closely controlled by President Kabila. Many legislators we spoke to deny the law The current DRC government is simply
Negotiations were led by the president’s exists. not strong enough to take on its
inner circle rather than the relevant How to explain this contradictory neighbour and, despite Felix Tshisekedi
government institutions. Moreover, behaviour? Again, it all ties to Angola’s becoming president earlier this year, the
sources involved in the talks told us backing of the regime. It seems that DRC’s political landscape has not shifted
that the DRC’s representatives asked for President Kabila calculated that while radically. Kabila and his allies retain
payments from Angola to be paid in cash. claiming the oilfields would scupper significant control and old dynamics
Angola’s then president José Eduardo Angola’s support of him, keeping quiet remain. As President Tshisekedi courts
Dos Santos allegedly responded to this would not necessarily ensure it. Another Angola for support now too, he will be
request by saying transfers should be president could be just as compliant. just as unwilling to anger his southern
made through banks, not “in sacks”. Showing Angola what Congolese policy neighbours as his predecessors.
Keeping the dispute alive might be – for example if the regime
Since then, the DRC has neither kept were to lose the 2011 elections – may
quiet about its rights to the oil nor fully have been Kabila’s way of safeguarding Kristof Titeca
asserted its claims. Instead, officials Angola’s backing. He balanced applying
have maintained a pattern of noisy but pressure on his powerful neighbour while
ineffectual action, periodically raising avoiding truly jeopardising relations.
the idea of joint exploitation or exclusive For its part, Angola reaffirmed the risks
rights. the DRC would be opening itself up to if
it did pursue its claims. In response to Erik Kennes
this and other disputes, it has expelled
Congolese citizens from the country as
its troops have started popping up in
Congolese towns.
Will the DRC ever claim the oilfields?
Despite the fact it could become one of Patrick Edmond
Africa’s largest oil-producers overnight,
there is little chance the DRC will ever
take control of its maritime territory as
defined under international law or even
reach a fair compromise. Its dependence
on its neighbour makes the prospect of
upsetting Angola too risky. Kristof Titeca and Erik Kennes at the
At the same time, the Angolan University of Antwerp while Patrick
government will likely continue to offer Edmond conducts investigations into
cash – either individually in envelopes business corruption in Africa.
or through more official channels – to

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80 | AFRICAN POWER Mining & Oil Review Vol 28, Issue 29, 2019 Celebrating 10 years of excellence