Author: Emmanuel Mumbere

A state-crafted farewell reverberating beyond mourning The vast hall of Brazzaville’s Palais des Congrès was unusually hushed on 25 June as Congolese protocol unfolded with military precision around the flag-draped coffin of Martin Mberi. President Denis Sassou N’Guesso laid a wreath, bowed, and signed the condolence book with an almost literary reflection on “a brother, a faithful friend for sixty-five years.” The scene, broadcast live by Télé Congo and echoed by regional outlets (Les Dépêches de Brazzaville, 25 June 2024), was intended to be intimate, yet it inevitably became a tableau of political communication. In a polity where symbolism often…

Congo’s Water Crisis Unveiled In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Regie de distribution d’eau, better known as Regideso, disclosed that it produced a staggering 336.284.849 cubic meters of water in 2024, drawing in revenues amounting to 464.8 billion Congolese francs, approximately 163 million US dollars. This announcement by the company’s director general, David Tshilumba, marked a pivotal moment in emphasizing the immense challenge of addressing the nation’s water supply dilemma amid rising demands and financial shortfalls. Financial Woes Amidst Operational Challenges The substantial revenue might be misleading as Regideso grapples with multifarious challenges including outdated infrastructure, inconsistent power…