Eric Niyndu, adviser to President Tshisekedi: ‘We need the diplomatic support of Belgium’
GK What are the current projects between the United States and the DRC?
FR Our American interlocutors have said it clearly: they want to be able to establish their partnerships with Africa because today’s global issues must be dealt with multilaterally. It is the return of multilateralism in the proposals of the Biden administration, in particular for the question of climate issues. The United States sees us as a strategic country that can enable them to rationalize their material supply chain and make their ecological transition, particularly in the construction of batteries. This is why a memorandum of understanding was signed between the United States, Zambia and the DRC.
GK What is this partnership about?
FR It aims to create a value chain to move from the exploitation of materials – cobalt, coltan and manganese – to the transformation, or even the construction of batteries in Congo. This system should make it possible to have gains and dividends on the added value of the production chain. […] From this point of view, there is a concordance of interests. The United States no longer wants to be 100% dependent on Asian suppliers. On our side, we want to create jobs at home and earn dividends on added value.
GK Will this partnership be to the detriment of others, notably with China?
EN No, that would complement them. It’s a new philosophy. The United States is the first to respond to our call, but this call is for everyone. Whether it’s the Chinese, the Turks or even the Belgians, we tell them: bring your technology, but what we want is to work at home and create factories here. Not only to be a country of extraction and export.
We do not discuss with people who do not want to lay down their arms.
GK The current situation in Kivu, eastern Congo, was also presented…
EN We have indeed had discussions with the various members of the Biden administration on this subject. Each time, the discourse was the same: the United States must take a greater interest and become more strongly involved in the resolution of this conflict. The first one has chosen to do is to put pressure on Rwanda so that this country stops supporting the M23. This is the key. Today the M23 refuses to lay down its arms. Or, it is the first condition to start a peace process. This is why the government refuses to discuss with them at this time.