FONAREV: Symbol of Congo's Sovereign Stand Against External Attacks

The recent criticisms targeting the National Fund for Reparations to Victims of Conflicts (FONAREV) are not merely an administrative debate. They represent a deeper geopolitical confrontation between a Congo reclaiming its economic sovereignty and networks that have long profited from chaos and opacity in the mining sector. Behind these attacks lies an uncomfortable reality: the Democratic Republic of Congo is retaking control of its resources, embracing its power, and redefining its economic destiny.

A Project of African Economic Sovereignty

FONAREV is not just another fund. It embodies a new philosophy of economic governance: a state transforming its mineral wealth into an engine for justice and reconstruction. Under President Felix Tshisekedi's leadership, the DRC is breaking free from dependencies inherited from a system where its resources benefited others. This national mechanism aims to compensate war victims, but more importantly symbolizes Congo's determination to regain mastery over its subsoil. By linking reparation and sovereignty, FONAREV creates an African precedent: a model where natural resources primarily serve human development, not illicit external circuits.

Political Accusations Masking Other Interests

For several weeks, certain political and media outlets have been multiplying unfounded accusations of "plunder" around FONAREV. Yet no independent report or judicial body has established any evidence. These attacks, often fueled by Rwandan or foreign interests, pursue a clear objective: to weaken the image of a Congo asserting its autonomy and disrupting regional balances. Accusing Kinshasa diverts attention from the real predatory networks that have been illegally exploiting gold, coltan, and cobalt in the East for years. Congolese people know the truth: while some enrich themselves through their suffering, the government is working to ensure national wealth finally funds peace and reconstruction.

FONAREV: A Tool of Justice and National Power

Beyond its social dimension, FONAREV is a diplomatic and strategic lever. By placing victim reparation at the heart of a sanitized mining economy, Congo restores economic and political value to justice. This approach, combining restorative justice and mining sovereignty, concerns those who saw the DRC as a deposit open to all appetites. FONAREV disturbs because it redefines the hierarchy of regional powers: it imposes the idea of a strong Congo, conscious of its strategic weight in global supply chains.

A Congo Inspiring Africa

This model already inspires beyond borders. By linking economy, memory, and reconstruction, the DRC proposes an African vision of development: that of a continent refusing the status of economic victim. President Tshisekedi embodies this line: building African sovereignty based on mastery of natural resources and accountability of national actors. Attacks against FONAREV therefore target not just a management mechanism: they target the very idea of a sovereign, strong Congo in control of its destiny.

FONAREV and FARG: Two Opposing Trajectories

Comparisons between FONAREV in the Democratic Republic of Congo and FARG in Rwanda illuminate two radically different models. The first is an instrument of sovereignty and social justice, piloted by the Congolese state and framed by clear legal guidelines, ensuring transparency and reparative purpose of funds. The second, often cited as reference, has experienced documented management and politicization issues, with limited access to reports and marked dependence on foreign donors. Thus, while FARG has sometimes strayed from its initial humanitarian mission, FONAREV embodies national, responsible management focused on real victim reparation. This comparison highlights a simple truth: Congo's economic and moral sovereignty disturbs, where external dependence remains tolerated.

FONAREV, GENOCOST and Memorial Diplomacy

FONAREV is part of a broader strategy of restorative justice and historical recognition. Through the GENOCOST concept, the DRC designates the economic and humanitarian genocide suffered in the East: a tragedy marked by deadly exploitation of natural resources and loss of millions of lives. This approach isn't merely legal: it's political and diplomatic. President Felix Tshisekedi now links the fight against impunity (through FONAREV) with GENOCOST recognition on the international stage. This articulation illustrates a coherent vision: repair, name, and gain recognition for crimes committed, so Congolese collective memory becomes a lever for justice and sovereignty.

Sovereignty: Pillar of Justice

FONAREV isn't Congo's weakness, but its clearest response to decades of economic humiliation. External critics seek to discredit a country that, for the first time in long, speaks as an equal with partners and refuses mining dependence. For ultimately, those attacking FONAREV fear a strong Congo: one controlling its subsoil, repairing its victims, and transforming its pain into power.