Congo: The Heart of Africa

Many African countries claim to be the heart of Africa, including Malawi, which is probably the thigh.

As the heart is essential for the transportation of oxygen throughout the body, Congo is important for Africans to move freely throughout the continent.

It is difficult to travel from southern to northern or from eastern to western Africa, with out passing through the green and beautiful Congo or its neighboring counties. Without the free movement of the Africans, it is imposible to create mutually beneficial economic ties between different African people. That is why Congo is the heart of Africa.

Additionally, Congo is one of the richest countries in the world. Found the in center of Africa, now Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was formerly known as Zaire.

DRC is home to the second longest river in the world, the Congo River. The longest river is also found in Africa and its name is the Nail River. As the heart is the provider of the power needed for life, the Congo River has one of the highest potential to produce hydropower that could light the entire Africa.

Other natural resources in DRC include diamond, gold, petroleum, natural gas, copper, cobalt, uranium, lead, potash, forest, coltan and many more discovered and undiscovered precious minerals. Eighty percent of the world’s known reserves of coltan is found in DRC. Coltan in used as a “vital components in electronic devices, ranging widely from mobile phones to laptop computers,” according to wikipedia.org.

DRC is also rich in human resources.

Not only rich in minerals, forest, and water, but DRC is also blessed in arts. For example, the National Geography describes Congo as “one of the most musically fertile regions on earth.” “Congolese music is sexy…. In Congo, almost everyone can dance or sing.,” reports the Economist.

DRC is also blessed with many revolutionary intellectuals such as Marie-Léontine Tsibinda Bilombo, Pierre Mumbere Mujomba, Jean-Baptiste Tati-Loutard, Kamanda Kama Sywor, and many more. My favorite writer is Philippe Wamba, who is father is Congolese and his mother is African America.


Unfortunately, most of these valuable resources are extracted and exported cheaply and rarely are used to develop the content.

Since 1961, after the assassination of a competent leader who fought for DRC’s independence - Patris Lumumba, DRC became a place where civil wars and other countries’ wars were fought.

“This [conflicts] has been fueled and supported by various national and international corporations and other regimes which have an interest in the outcome of the conflict,” according to globalissues.org

There is a glimpse of hope in DRC, therefore there is a hope for peaceful and progressive Africa, since DRC is the heart of Africa. Different rebel leaders, who once fought each other furiously, have now agreed to hold elections.

To read more about DRC’s election go to www.blackstarnews.com