Throwing out the neighbours

A spree of mutual expulsions disguises long-standing economic disputes

The two big neighbours have been busily expelling each others' nationals and the resulting tension hides their disagreements about oil, diamonds and the hoped-for electric power from a huge dam at Inga on the Congo River. So far this year, between 100,000 and 200,000 people have been deported in both directions. In mid-November, a bilateral commission will meet in Luanda, to firm up a provisional agreement reached in October. The two governments appeared to have papered over the cracks, but Angolan troops made another incursion on 17-18 October in Tshela.

Article Tags:
José Eduardo dos Santos, Violent expulsions, Congo-Brazzaville, Joseph Kabila, Mobutu Sese Seko, Jean-Pierre Bemba, Adolphe Muzito, George Chicoty, Francisco Pereira Furtado, Jean-Claude Mvuemba, Diamonds and the Bana Lunda, Portugal, Belgium, Carlos Sumbula, The root of the crisis, Freddy Mulumba, René Isekemanga Nkeka, Chinese, Inga Dam development, Australian, Radio Okapi, gendarmerie, chikwangue, garimpeiros, Bana Lunda, Bana Lunda garimpeiros, Le Potentiel, de facto, Le Potentiel's

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