The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is considered the richest country on earth in natural resources and minerals, and yet it has been in continual conflict for centuries. Since first making contact with the Portuguese in the 15th century, this place has been the focus of continental and international interests. The major conflict in that region today has everything to do with its resources and minerals, and nothing to do with democracy.
No one really knows who is operating in that country and where. Organizations are going in and out to do so-called “benevolent work”, airplanes and vehicles with undisclosed contents are entering and exiting, citizens are being displaced in conflicts, local rebel groups are controlling spaces, surrounding countries are engaging in this action, foreign countries and multinational corporations are also involved through agency. Somehow the resources of that country end up as finished products in foreign countries, on a scale contradicting the official trade figures. There is too much going on.
Satellite coverage is needed. I saw that Spacecom provides Satellite coverage for the DRC, but it is a foreign company operated by a foreign government (please correct me if I am wrong). That region needs an independent Satellite system that comprehensively monitors everything in that region and keeps the knowledge locally.
The exact location of minerals and resources should be pinpointed. The location of local groups, international organizations, foreign forces and their movements should be meticulously monitored in relation to the minerals and resources. The inflow and outflow of all airplanes, vehicles, ships etc should be tracked and their contents identified, the information should be closely coordinated with the military for enforcement action. Nothing should enter or exit the borders without close surveillance and comprehensive knowledge of all its contents.
Resource and mineral smugglers can be great helpers. Besides pursuing them, you can put out a reward for smugglers who can give insider knowledge of the real operations of people and organizations (foreign and domestic) in that region. Who can reveal the routes, sources of arms shipments, locations of transfer, quantities of minerals and resources diverted, the players involved, content of the airplanes and ships, and the underground coordinated movements. You then double or triple their reward if they wear spy body cameras to conduct an undercover operation to bring back video recordings of this information.
But all this presupposes you have leaders and people who are committed to bringing stability in the region, in order administer the minerals and resources in the country first for the welfare and benefit of the Congolese people. Also, the DRC cannot do this in a vacuum, but needs the partnership of other African countries. Thus, Africa must unite to bring stability to itself.
Naturally the situation is more complex than this, but these are preliminary thoughts. Finally, we must never lose sight of what is most important here: the security, welfare, and progress of the Congolese people.
~Dr. Ikenna Ezealah
Nation Upbuilding 