OUAGADOUGOU — Freddy Mulumba Kabuayi, a writer-political scientist and former Director General of the national television of the Democratic Republic of Congo (RTNC), has called on Africans to assert control over their natural resources, criticizing the ongoing exploitation by Western interests. Speaking at the DRC consulate in Ouagadougou during a press conference hosted by the Bana Congo Democratic Association (ABCD), Kabuayi highlighted the severe impacts of such exploitation on his home country.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the Western world, with the aid of multinational companies, has been exploiting Congolese raw materials without proper compensation, contributing to a host of severe consequences including genocide and mass displacement. "In the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the complicity of the Western world, multinationals exploit our raw materials for free," declared Kabuayi, adding that this exploitation has led to 10 million deaths, 7 million displaced people, and 500,000 women raped.

Kabuayi used the platform to urge a new vision for Africa, one inspired by figures like the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, whom he praised as a model and visionary for the continent's development. He pointed to the geopolitical tensions influencing Africa, noting that while China and Russia promote a vision of liberation through markets and security, Western powers perpetuate conflicts to continue their plunder.

"Westerners think that since 1885 (Berlin Conference), Africa belongs to them. We must change the situation," Kabuayi emphasized, calling for African elites to reconnect with their societies and empower their populations to fully benefit from their own resources. He advocated for a powerful, beautiful, and proud new Africa, characterized by ambitious leadership and robust discourse.

Trésorine Nlandu Divengi, president of the ABCD, expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the press briefing, highlighting its role in enlightening both Congolese nationals in Burkina Faso and the local population about the ongoing challenges in the DR Congo. She emphasized the importance of raising awareness, hoping that the insights shared could help prevent similar issues elsewhere.