India's Role in the Post-War Reconstruction of the Democratic
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International Journal of Research (IJR) e-ISSN: 2348-6848, p- ISSN: 2348-795X Volume 2, Issue 07, July 2015 Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org India’s Role in the Post-War Reconstruction of the Democratic Republic of Congo Konsam Jenny Research Scholar Centre for African Studies School of International Studies Jawahar Lal Nehru University Abstract The end of the Second Congo War in 2003 breadbasket of the entire continent. With 80 brought the Democratic Republic of Congo million hectares of arable land, it used only 10 (DRC) in ruins. It affected almost everyone, per cent. Its potential has barely been tapped left the country with 5.4 million deaths, 3.4 and DRC is unable to feed its own people. people displaced, destroyed infrastructure and Moreover, agricultural production has fallen property, deteriorated economy. Once the 40 per cent since 19901 because of the wars country returns to almost peace, it needed to and conflicts (1996-2003) in the country. For rebuild, but, the task of rebuilding the country three consecutive years i.e. from 2009 to 2011 by itself became a huge task and almost the Global Hunger Index (GHI) has tagged it impossible without external help. In regard to as the hungriest country in the world. Due to this, India has lent a helping hand especially shortage of food, animal firms were looted in six main areas: agriculture, education, and animals, main source of protein, were transport and communication, energy sources, stolen including „bushmeat‟ primates industry and mining. These areas are crucial 2 for the development of DRC. supplemented protein shortage. In regard to this, India has helped DRC in The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of tapping water resources and in the richest in natural and mineral resources. introduction of modern technology in the field However, long period of conflict, devastating of agriculture by using tractors to ensure food civil war brought the country in ruins. Today security. These tractors are imported from it is one of the poorest ten countries in the India. In 2006 -2007, India has donated sixty world. When the war came to an end in 2003 „Sonalika tractors‟ with accessories and spares it left 5.4 million deaths, 3.4 people displaced. worth US$0.66 million.3 Though India closed its diplomatic mission in October 2003 on economic and security Next to Sonalika tractors, India‟s Mahindra considerations, it reopened its mission in and Mahindra Tractors have a hold in the 2006. Since then India has prioritised six areas DRC, now, after successful launching of its in its crucial programme of reconstruction. assembly lines in four African Countries i.e. They were: (i) agriculture, (ii) education, (iii) Nigeria, Chad, Mali and Gambia.4 Known for transport and communication, (iv)energy its fuel efficiency, reliability, and the sources, (v) industry, and (vi) mining. affordable market price, Mahindra and Agriculture Mahindra Tractors are considered suitable in Africa. Moreover, the availability of spare The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is parts proved to be a big advantage. Also, the blessed with great agricultural potential. It is company provides necessary service training said that it has the potential to become the to the locales to handle them effectively and to Available online:http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 185 International Journal of Research (IJR) e-ISSN: 2348-6848, p- ISSN: 2348-795X Volume 2, Issue 07, July 2015 Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org repair. This can also be used as a means of harvesting courses in the Barefoot College, transportation for short distances. Rajasthan after a Cultural Cooperation Agreement was signed8. Education Transport and communication Education is vital in the process of nation- building. It has been hard hit by the seven DRC faces serious transport problem caused years of war. Realising the importance of by its terrain and climate. Moreover, internal education, the Government of the DRC, in conflict, corruption, mismanagement 2010 announced primary education free and aggravates the situation. Out of all the other compulsory. Still, according to the findings of facilities, inland waterways have been the a report by the UN Office for the Coordination most used means of transport of the country as of Humanitarian Affairs, seven million most of the rivers are navigable. Roads and children remained illiterate, the main reason highways which provide another means of being the fear of forced recruitment as child transport are in bad shape. In fact, many of the soldiers as schools supplied the largest roads are mere tracks. One important fact is number of their strength. All armed rebels are that most of the navigable sections are known to have used child soldiers in the connected by roads. Roads consist mostly wars.5 And schools are one of the main centres unpaved. Transport infrastructure is also from where these children are abducted and facing more or less the same faith. During the enslaved by these groups.6 In addition, poor Second Congo War (1998-2003) most of the conditions of the parents and the problem of vehicles were destroyed. Wikipedia about displacement due to wars are also some of the transport in the DRC writes, “The First and other main reasons for the lack of education in Second Congo Wars saw great destruction of DRC. Today many organisations have come transport infrastructure from which the forward like United Nations, International country has not yet recovered. Many vehicles Rescue Committee (IRC), United States were destroyed or commandeered by militias, Agency for International Development especially in the north and east of the country, (USAID), the Development for International and the fuel supply system was also badly Development (DFID), and the United Nations affected”.9 In short, transport is almost non- Children‟s Fund (UNICEF) etc. However, out existent and traffic is scarce even where roads of the targeted amount only 8 per cent could are in good condition. be raised. What a pathetic situation?7 In view of this, DRC‟s Vice- President Jean Here, in the field of education, India has been Pierre Bemba while calling on the Vice- providing scholarships and training President of India during his visit to India programmes to train its manpower to man the from 2-4 March 2005 expressed for Indian education sector better. In 2012-2013 thirteen expertise and cooperation in (i) urban ICCR scholarships were utilised and fourteen transportation, (ii) education, and (iii) health.10 during 2013-2014 which have been provided India responding to his desire signed an LOC by the General Cultural Scholarship Scheme, in August 2005 by Chairman and Managing Africa Scholarship Scheme and under Cultural Director of India‟s Exim Bank T.C. Venkat Exchange Programme. India also offered to Subramaniam and DRC‟s ambassador to India set up one IT Centre of Excellence and three Balumuene Nkuda Francois, at the behest of working stations under the Hole-in-the-Wall the Government of India in August 2005. The Project, in DRC and also train Congolese LOC extended a line of credit of US $ 33.5 women in solar electrification and water million to the DRC for four projects. One of Available online:http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 186 International Journal of Research (IJR) e-ISSN: 2348-6848, p- ISSN: 2348-795X Volume 2, Issue 07, July 2015 Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org them was the acquisition of buses of the value Three telecommunication companies operate of US $ 12.5 million.11 India delivered 250 in the DRC including India‟s Bharti Airtel Tata buses in March 2006 along with a gift of DRC. The other two are Congo China 60 tractors.12 Telecommunications (CCT) and Vodacom. However, these two telecommunication Regarding railways India has not done much companies are far behind Bharti Airtel DRC. in the DRC. During the visit of Remi Henri Kuseyo Gatange, DRC Minister of Transport and Means of Communication to India from Established as Bharti Tele-Ventures Ltd in 13-17 August 2007, he held meeting with 1995 by Sunil Bharti Mittal, now called Bharti India‟s Railway Minister, held discussions Airtel Limited is one of the most successful with officials from Rail India Technical Indian multinational corporations in Africa. Economic Services Railway (RITES) Board.13 Bharti Airtel Asia successfully launched its After two years, India‟s Minister of State for operation starting in India in 1995, Sri Lanka External Affairs SM Krishna, during the in 2009 and Bangladesh in January 2010. In meeting with his DRC counterpart Mr. Alexis June 2010 it acquired Zain Africa BV mobile Thambwe Mwamba, Minister of Foreign services which used to operate in African 15 Affairs who visited India from 27-30 October countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo 2009 announced a line of Credit of US $ 263 Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, million for 3 projects including a US $ 50 Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, million Kinshasa City Urban Railway System Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Rehabilitation.14 Uganda, and Zambia. By the time of its acquisition Zain Africa had a total customer Another key area is communication. The base of over 42 million after signing an telecommunication system in the DRC is the agreement with Zain Africa with an asset least developed in the region and is extremely valuation of US $ 10.7 billion at the time of its unreliable. Most public offices do not have acquisition. With this acquisition, Bharti phone lines, and the few that exist either need Airtel became the world‟s fifth largest upgrading or are not operational at all. A wireless company with operations across 18 barely adequate wire and microwave radio countries. It was further expected to expand relay service exists in and between urban covering 3 more countries: Seychelles, centres, using a domestic satellite system with Jersey, and Guernsey.