Drifting apart

The habitual politeness between Belgium and its former colony grew thinner still during a five-day visit to Kinshasa in late April by three ministers from Brussels, Karel De Gucht (Foreign Affairs), Charles Michel (Cooperation) and Pieter De Crem (Defence). In the Belgian Embassy on 21 April, De Gucht told a gathering of Congolese notables that the government should tackle 'certain people's fabulous privileges'. The Belgian delegates were discussing the recent purchase of 500 four-wheel-drive vehicles at US$40,000 each for members of Congo's National Assembly during a strike by the country's teachers in protest against their tiny salaries.

Article Tags:
Belgium, Karel De Gucht, Charles Michel, Pieter De Crem, Joseph Kabila, George Dallemagne, China, South Africa', Mwana Africa, Bob Kabamba, Britain, Le Soir, Union Minière, Mwana Africa, Banque Fortis, Groupe Forrest

end of preview

To read the rest of the article you need to either log in or do one of the following:

Subscribe to Africa Confidential Find out more
Purchase this article on its own Find out more

If you have a print subscription already please click here for full access to the website.
If you have already logged in and believe you should have access to this article please contact customer services.