RE:RE:RE:RE:any info on this ???You would think it's simple logic, but why is Congo still the poorest country in the world despite the whole world mining there for over 100 years?
If Kabila used simple logic, he would step down and then run again legally in 5 years - he could make a comeback as a Congo hero. But....he won't. He's a warlord. He wants to stay in power. He led child soldiers in war efforts and saw his father assassinated by a child soldier when his father was president. Many Congolese detest western influences - they see them as colonial overlords responsible for decades of exploitation. In my opinion, Kabila views western influences as such.
The Congolese constitution, in Kabila's mind, is a guideline to create peace, law and order. But it's not binding, it should not tell him what to do. No one and no thing can do that. In Kabila's mind nobody else has brought so much prosperity to Congo in such a short period of time. So Kabila (in Kabila's mind), should remain in power to ensure this continues.
For the west, a constitution is entrenched and supercedes presidential power. For Kabila, the presidency supercedes the constitution. It's sad that he cannot see the error he's making.
Kipushi was once owned by First Quantum. Only to be confiscated, sold to Dan Gertler then sold to Ivanhoe because they weren't building fast enough. The Komoa mine is well characterized now. Any of the majors can easily build a mine there now. So for Ivanhoe, if you don't build fast enough, you will lose the mining rights because of a lack of progress. If you build too fast, you risk sinking in costs only to have it yanked by the warlord. So the trick, is to build it at a pace that keeps the warlord looking good. He lets you keep your share it if this happens! I'm sure Robert Friedland has this all worked out.