Controversy Erupts Over $100 Million DRC-Tanzania-Zambia Project

Controversy surrounds a $100 million project linking the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Tanzania, and Zambia after the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) allegedly fired an analyst last August for raising concerns.

The analyst warned that the project could displace nearly 10,000 people in the DRC, violating DFC’s policy against funding projects that displace over 5,000 people. Despite refusing to approve the project, the analyst was dismissed, according to the investigative firm Project on Government Oversight (Pogo).

The project aims to connect cobalt mines in the Congo to the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. However, this dismissal is among several recent instances of alleged reprisals at the DFC. In December, Congress urged DFC to investigate and address these allegations, emphasizing the importance of respecting employees' rights.

Emmanuel Umpula, executive director of African Resources Watch, expressed disbelief over the firing and stressed the need for development that minimizes adverse impacts on local communities.

The DFC, which partners with the private sector to finance critical projects in developing countries, is now under scrutiny for balancing development goals with ethical considerations.