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For the Friday Group: NICOLAS BAISE, JONATHAN HOLSLAG, FRANÇOIS TOUSSAINT
For Génération Congo:
MADIMBA KADIMA-NZUJI, BLAISE MBATSHI, SYLVAIN MUDIKONGO
REPORT TO THE KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION JUNE 2014
CONTENTS
Contents3
Acknowledgements4
Preamble: why revisit Belgo-Congolese relations?
5
Summary8
Four major aspects of Belgo-Congolese relations: an outline
8
18 recommendations for redefining Belgo-Congolese relations
11
Call for a change of mindset and for action
12
Bibliography14
About the authors
16
Colophon17
FRIDAY GROUP GÉNÉRATION CONGO
3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This report is the outcome of fruitful exchanges
between members of the Friday Group and
of Génération Congo, and is also based on the
perspectives shared by numerous partners involved
in various aspects of Belgo-Congolese relations whom
we had the opportunity to meet in the course of
compiling this paper.
We would like in particular to express our gratitude
to Kathryn BRAHY, Georges DALLEMAGNE, Patrick DE
WOLF, Touria EL GLAOUI, Amaury FASTENAKELS, Hans
HOEBEKE, Paul KERSTENS, Eric de LAMOTTE, Michel
LASTSCHENKO, Bernard LEPLA, Jérôme LIPPENS, GuyRobert LUKAMA, Gisèle MANDAILA, Abdon MUNGA, Djo
MUNGA, Vitshois MWILAMBWE BONDO, Jérôme ROUX,
Michael SAKOMBI, Patrick SOHIER, Jean STEFFENS,
Thomas STEVENS, Dominique STRUYE de SWIELANDE,
Alexis THAMBWE-MWAMBA, Maddy TIEMBE, Brain
TSHIBANDA, David VAN REYBROUCK, Jean-Louis
WILKIN, Arnaud ZACHARIE.
Finally, we would very much like to thank the King
Baudouin Foundation and all the members of its team
for their substantial support and their confidence in
our project.
4
REDEFINING BELGO-CONGOLESE RELATIONS
PREAMBLE:
WHY REVISIT
BELGO-CONGOLESE
RELATIONS?
In April 2013, the Friday Group was launched in
Brussels as a forum where young Belgians meet to
debate around major issues of society. At the same
time, in Kinshasa, the think tank ‘Génération Congo’
brings together young Congolese people who want
to help develop their country by reflecting on ways
and means to turn it into an emerging nation. Two
groups of young people involved in the community
in which they live, the will to exchange views on the
strategic issues of our two countries, and ties of
friendship are all that was needed for the idea of
this report to come about.
Nevertheless, during this process that lasted more
than a year, how often didn’t we and our partners ask
ourselves: why revisit Belgo-Congolese relations?
Why do you Belgians still have to talk about Congo?
Why can’t you Congolese finally forget Belgium and
shift your focus towards emerging countries and
South-South partnerships?
This is a valid question, given the nearly 150 years
of mutual relations. Has the end of the colonial era
really brought about a change in the relationship
and mindset of "évolué - évoluant"? Have the
numerous development aid programmes really
helped to improve the daily lives of the Congolese
people? Has the Belgian diplomatic influence on
the Congolese question been able to avoid twenty
years of war in Eastern Congo? Was the DRC able
to rely on Belgium’s historical economic presence
to develop its infrastructure and industry? For
many, the answer to those questions appears to be
negative. Should we therefore still expect anything
from Belgo-Congolese relations?
We have come to believe that two groups of young
Belgians and Congolese do indeed have every
interest in together working out their vision for
the future of Belgo-Congolese relations, for three
reasons. Firstly, the younger generations can be
counted on to build an unbiased and complex-free
relationship; secondly, we believe in the opportunity
to build win-win relationships based on an
alignment of the strategic interests of Belgium and
the DRC; thirdly, we feel there is still time to build
on the mutual knowledge and understanding of
the two countries which is a distinctive asset in the
relations between Belgians and Congolese.
1. Counting on younger generations to build an
unbiased and complex-free relationship
The relations between Belgium and Congo (DRC)
and their peoples are complex. They are marked by
a heavily charged colonial and post-colonial history
that tied Belgians and Congolese together for better
and for worse. They bear the imprints of strong and
highly diverse feelings: nostalgia, gratitude, anger,
rancour, friendship, hope, guilt, etc. It is particularly
striking how many of our partners who were very
deeply involved in Belgo-Congolese relations
confirmed how paternalistic feelings remained very
strong. Even if perceptions are evolving and some
believe that the fiftieth anniversary of Congolese
independence has marked a major turning point,
we feel that this remains an important issue: can
unbiased relations be built if Belgians still see
FRIDAY GROUP GÉNÉRATION CONGO
5
themselves or are perceived as the "noko" (uncle) of
the Congolese people? Even though this may seem
a kindly and affectionate term, it still implies that
paternalistic sentiment mentioned earlier.
It is a context which the younger generations are
not unaware of, but which should now be outdated.
Counting on the younger generations offers an
opportunity to build an unbiased and complexfree, grown-up relationship. Several generations
separate today’s thirty-year-olds from the colonial
era. Those younger generations, who have grown up
with the Internet and mobile phones, are connected
to the same worldwide social networks. In Africa,
those young people are hearing the message that
Africa will be the continent of the twenty-first
century and that they will be the protagonists
on that stage. In the West, Generation Y1 is welltravelled and questions the world we live in,
thereby developing its sense of civic responsibility,
its awareness of the world, and its willingness to
change it.
Without going further into the debate on the
sociological characterization of the younger Western
and Congolese generations, but relying on our own
experiences and equally aware of the realities in
which many young people have to survive in the
DRC, it seems clear to us that there is a fertile
breeding ground among the younger generations
to foster the growth of new unbiased and complexfree forms of relationships.
Along those lines, a young Belgian entrepreneur
active in the DRC pointed out to us that when
a Congolese person calls him "noko" (uncle), he
suggests he’d rather call him "ndeko" (brother or
cousin). Isn’t this a good way to position oneself,
as an equal, all the while remaining aware of the
historical and affective ties?
2. Building win-win relations based on an
alignment of each other’s strategic interests
Healthy and lasting relations between Belgium
and the DRC, between Belgians and Congolese,
can only be achieved if the interests of each nation
dovetail with each other (States, organizations and
individuals). We are convinced of the necessity to
6
REDEFINING BELGO-CONGOLESE RELATIONS
formulate a real strategic and dispassionate vision
of the relationship between our two countries:
what do we want to build up together? How will
that meet Belgian and Congolese expectations? The
answers to those questions should allow us to build
relations that are beneficial to everyone.
Before we embark on such a process, it is obviously
important to understand the strategic issues of each
party in order to identify potential alignments of
interests. Every individual or organization involved
in a bilateral relationship adopts this logic, and it
also applies to states. We therefore willingly make
the exercise of identifying the main strategic issues
of Belgium and the DRC. The detailed version of the
report (available in French and Dutch) also sets out
certain alignments of interests which we have been
able to identify at the diplomatic, economic, cultural
and interpersonal levels.
Belgium faces some major strategic political and
economic issues that are described in the first
report of the Friday Group2. The upheaval of the
global geostrategic order, marked by a shift of
power towards the emerging economies, provokes
political and economic uncertainties as well as
security challenges. The Belgian economy, which
is very open to international trade and to the
European structure – and therefore to a potential
deglobalization -, is exploring new growth levers
that are vital to ensure the sustainability of
its industry and public funding (social security,
education, infrastructure, etc). The weak growth
of the European economy, an important motor of
the Belgian economy, represents a major challenge
for the country’s economic environment, which
is primarily made up of small and medium-sized
businesses that are being forced to look further
afield for economic growth. Besides economic
growth, we should also mention the fight against
unemployment (particularly in the manufacturing
industry), competitiveness, institutional stability,
education, innovation, etc.
The DRC, too, is facing some tremendous challenges.
The security situation, which is under constant
threat from armed militias, needs to achieve
lasting stability; the democratic process remains
fragile, while the process leading to economic and
social development has yet to be refined3. More
specifically, the DRC needs to leave behind the
"resource curse"4 which has been the cause of so
much greed, and transform the enormous (and
sustainable) potential of its natural resources into
tangible benefits for its population in the areas of
education, health care and infrastructures. The
achievement of a lasting peace, the consolidation
of the democratic process, and economic planning
are definitely the main challenges that will have an
impact on the country’s short-term future. With its
surface area of 2.3 million km², its population of 70
million, its tremendous natural resources, and its
nine African neighbours, the DRC could become that
"beating heart" of Africa which it is entitled to claim.
As we have seen, the challenges facing Belgium and
the DRC are considerable and are specific to each.
Belgo-Congolese relations cannot possibly claim to
be the only miracle solution to all those challenges.
Yet we believe there are obvious alignments of
interests, and it is those on which we must base
ourselves to redefine objective and pragmatic
Belgo-Congolese relations.
3. Building on the mutual knowledge and
understanding of the two countries while there
is still time
The common history of Belgium and Congo has
undeniably led to a greater mutual knowledge and
understanding of the situation in the two countries.
In some cases, this knowledge is formalized in
scientific or journalistic literature, or in the numerous
collections and publications of the Royal Museum
of Central Africa in Tervuren. Very often it is very
informal, resulting as it does from the experiences
and accounts of the thousands of Belgians who
lived or live in the DRC, and of the thousands of
Congolese who lived or live in Belgium.
becoming scarce, while new partners, primarily
South Africa and China, are taking up a dominant
position on the DRC’s diplomatic and economic
scene.
Despite this erosion of reciprocal relations, we
believe that mutual knowledge and understanding
is still a highly distinctive element of the BelgoCongolese relationship compared with any other
bilateral relations that Belgium and Congo may
have. Which other Western country has such a highly
developed knowledge of and interest in the DRC
than Belgium? And, vice versa, which other African
country has such knowledge of and distinctive ties
with Belgium than Congo? We therefore believe it is
essential that, while we still can, we should put that
heritage to good use and maintain it for the purpose
of building more modern and complex-free bilateral
Belgo-Congolese relations.
We therefore believe it is indeed a good idea for
two groups of young Belgian and Congolese people
to jointly formulate their vision for the future of
Belgo-Congolese relations, and this report was
drawn up with that aim in mind. It is the outcome
of fruitful exchanges not only between members
of the Friday Group and of Génération Congo, but
also with numerous partners involved in various
aspects of Belgo-Congolese relations: diplomats,
entrepreneurs, politicians, artists, development aid
workers, teachers, researchers, journalists, citizens.
They all contributed to the formulation of the
thoughts contained in this report.
However, this common knowledge crumbles away
as the Belgium-Congo axis weakens. The number of
Belgians living in the DRC has declined dramatically;
Belgium is no longer the main port of entry for
Congolese wanting to study and travel; economic
exchanges and Belgian investment in the DRC are
FRIDAY GROUP GÉNÉRATION CONGO
7
SUMMARY
Since we believe that a new form of BelgoCongolese relations can be achieved on an
unbiased and complex-free basis that meets the
strategic interests of each nation, our analysis
focuses on four aspects of the Belgo-Congolese
relationship: diplomatic and intergovernmental
relations, economic relations, cultural exchanges,
and interpersonal exchanges.
For each of those aspects we make an outline of
the current situation before formulating a number
of recommendations to redefine Belgo-Congolese
relations.
FOUR MAJOR ASPECTS
OF BELGO-CONGOLESE
RELATIONS: AN OUTLINE
1. Diplomatic relations: a favourable context for a
strategic partnership
Since Congo became independent in 1960,
diplomatic relations between Belgium and the DRC
have known ups and downs, regularly alternating
between hot and cold. In recent years, highly
controversial statements made by the head of
Belgian diplomacy, Karel De Gucht, in 2008 about
"the way the country is governed by the Congolese
elites and Belgium’s moral right to inspect the way
development aid funds are spent" cast another
8
REDEFINING BELGO-CONGOLESE RELATIONS
cloud over diplomatic relations between the two
countries, culminating in the recall by Kinshasa of
its ambassador in Brussels.
This episode was soon followed by a shared
willingness of Belgium and the DRC to normalize
relations, this time on a "grown-up" and "balanced"
basis. The subsequent rekindling of diplomatic
relations paved the way for a royal visit in June
2010 in a climate of appeasement on the occasion
of the festivities to mark the fiftieth anniversary of
Congo’s independence. Despite Belgium’s criticism
of the way the 2011 elections were organized, the
diplomatic détente continued. Belgium declared
its intention to keep playing an important role
in Kinshasa in light of the emergence of new
powers, in particular China and South Africa (as
evidenced by the construction of a new embassy).
It seems it wants to focus its diplomatic efforts
on the military front (formation of battalions
that took part in operations against M23) and in
the economic sphere (appointment of economic
advisers, Marshall Plan).
Three observations can be drawn from recent
developments in Belgo-Congolese diplomatic
relations:
• There are mutual interests in maintaining strong
bilateral relations: for the DRC, it means deriving
benefit from Belgium’s interest in the Congolese
question and its access to international circles;
for Belgium, it means strengthening one of its
main levers of diplomatic influence and deriving
benefit from it.
• The important role of military cooperation in the
revitalization of bilateral relations: the Military
Partnership Programme (MPP) which led to the
formation of three battalions of FARDC (Armed
Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo), one
of which took part in successful operations against
M23, and the refurbishment of their military
camps, is in our view a successful illustration of the
3D approach (Defence, Diplomacy, Development)
which had supposedly been in progress for some
time but without tangible result.
• Diplomatic relations suffer from a lack of strategic
vision: the three main axes of Belgo-Congolese
bilateral relations, development aid, economic
diplomacy and military cooperation require a more
integrated and global vision.
The turning point which the DRC has reached in its
quest for growth, the reciprocal interest of Belgium
and the DRC in maintaining strong relations, and
the recent rekindling of diplomatic relations form
a context which we believe is conducive to the
establishment of a strategic partnership between
the two countries. In that perspective, the DRC
has an important part to play in ascertaining that
those strategic relations with Belgium enable it
to assert itself as a leading player on the regional
scene, choosing its partners on the basis of its own
challenges and clearly defined objectives.
2. Rebuilding Belgo-Congolese economic relations
Belgium and the DRC are very different economies.
The challenges they face are likewise different.
Nevertheless, in a context where Belgian businesses
are looking for new growth levers and where the
economic development of the DRC ought to rest on
solid partners, we are convinced that an economic
win-win situation is possible.
Although it was affected by the crisis that began in
2008, Belgium eventually scored better than most
other countries in the euro zone in terms of growth.
Nevertheless, the challenges are considerable: growth,
competitiveness, the fight against unemployment,
and institutional stability.
For the DRC, long years of conflict and an embryonic
government structure meant that precious time
has been lost for the country. Yet a positive dynamic
seems to be emerging. While the fight against
rebel groups is intensifying, the macroeconomic
indicators are improving, in particular the growth
in GDP (buoyed by the strong demand for raw
materials by the emerging nations) by an average
of 6% since 2007, reaching 8.2% in 2013. Structural
reforms have also been initiated (introduction
of VAT, payment of civil servants’ salaries by
bank, introduction of OHADA business law, etc).
Nevertheless, the DRC still faces many challenges
that have an impact on its economic growth, which
will have to rest on a virtuous circle involving growth
in formal employment, increase in people’s income
and tax revenues that should be ploughed back
into new business sectors in order to become less
dependent on international aid and raw materials.
Economic exchanges between Belgium and the DRC
have deteriorated considerably since 1960, with only
a few long-time Belgian players still active on the
Congolese market. However, some newcomers are
worth noting, both Belgians in Congo and Congolese
in Belgium.
In this context, three main axes can be identified to
rebuild economic relations:
• Common definition of a sectoral approach for the
establishment of joint ventures, based on the
areas where the Belgian economy has the most
expertise, and on the needs of the Congolese
economy;
•Supporting the involvement of the Congolese
diaspora in Belgium in the development of
the DRC by mobilizing skills and investment
resources;
• Helping with the establishment of a capital market
in the DRC in a context where access to funding
will be critical and where technical expertise
(e.g. Euronext group), the presence of long-time
economic operators, and understanding of the
Congolese economic environment put Belgium in
a position as a potential partner for the DRC in
such a project.
FRIDAY GROUP GÉNÉRATION CONGO
9
3. Cultural exchanges as a distinctive lever for
strengthening Belgo-Congolese relations
4. Interpersonal exchanges as the foundations of
Belgo-Congolese relations
Culture plays a fundamental role in any society and
in its development. It is a counterweight that calls
our society into question, a vehicle for dreams, a
unifying force that helps to define our identities.
By applying those functions to relations between
nations, culture becomes a source of mutual
exchanges, openness, understanding and respect; it
facilitates the formation of a common identity.
Whether through migration (travellers) or the
diaspora (residents), interpersonal exchanges are
the foundations of Belgo-Congolese relations
on which other forms of exchanges (diplomatic,
economic, cultural) are built.
Although bilateral relations between states can be
envisaged on a purely economic, diplomatic, security
and military basis, this is not what we have in mind
for relations between Belgium and Congo, for that
would mean depriving ourselves of one of the main
distinctive elements of our bilateral relationship.
Although the cultural sectors in Belgium and Congo
face some major challenges (funding, independence,
mobilization of audiences, international outreach,
etc), we believe that cultural exchanges can help to
overcome them. There are certain experiences in the
area of cultural exchanges which we can fall back
on, such as initiatives to stimulate artistic creation
or dissemination in the DRC, Belgium or elsewhere.
Those experiences with cultural exchanges are a
distinctive element of the bilateral Belgo-Congolese
relationship. For Belgium as well as for the DRC,
such exchanges with other countries are not quite
as intensive. Consolidating those exchanges will
allow the Belgian and Congolese cultural and art
sectors to strengthen their role as questioner and
counterweight, creator of dreams and unifying
force.
10
REDEFINING BELGO-CONGOLESE RELATIONS
Although the Belgian presence in the DRC has
dwindled since the country’s independence, Congo
is still one of the top three destinations in Africa for
Belgians (along with South Africa and Morocco). It
is primarily a case of economic migration motivated
by the search for better opportunities.
Conversely, the Congolese presence in Belgium has
grown incessantly since Congo became independent.
The first wave of immigrants consisted of students
sent to be educated as a Congolese élite. The
second post-independence wave included the wellto-do, state employees, businesspeople, tourists,
adventurers and people looking for a better life.
From the nineteen nineties, impoverishment and
the fall of the Mobutu regime drove many Congolese
into economic and political exile. The Congolese who
stayed behind regarded the "Belgicains" (Congolese
living in Belgium) as rich people. Nevertheless, the
first arrivals in Belgium had trouble adjusting, and
even though the second-generation Congolese are
better integrated, the glass ceiling still remains in
place. Despite this reality, the Congolese in Belgium
continue to be solicited for financial support.
18
RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR REDEFINING
BELGO-CONGOLESE
RELATIONS
1. Strengthen diplomatic relations on the basis of a
global strategic partnership
R1. Set up an informal diplomatic coordination
group (the BC8) supported by a technical infrastructure to determine and assess the achievement of common strategic goals;
R2. Arouse the interest of young Belgian and Congolese politicians in relations between the two
countries through regular meetings of young
Belgian and Congolese MPs;
R3. Increase development aid funding for development projects that meet the strategic goals of
the two countries;
R4. Use greater military cooperation as a tool for socioeconomic development projects, building on
the success of the recently applied 3D approach;
2. Reinvigorate Belgo-Congolese economic exchanges around common interests
R5. Strengthen opportunities for exchanges between Belgian and Congolese entrepreneurs;
R6. Set up a consulting and coaching agency for Belgian and Congolese entrepreneurs who want to
work together;
R7. Identify the priority areas for economic cooperation with a view to making calls for Belgo-Congolese business projects;
R8. Help to foster a more favourable business climate by offering the Congolese government expertise in legal matters and in attracting investment;
R9. Help to set up and implement innovative sources of funding in the DRC, such as a capital market, mobilizing savings of the Congolese diaspora, financing fund for small businesses;
3. Strengthen cultural exchanges as a distinctive
lever of the Belgo-Congolese relationship
R10. In the area of artistic creation, strengthen
opportunities for exchanges between Western and African artists, Belgians and Congolese, so that they can gain inspiration from
each other’s creative potential;
R11. In the area of artistic dissemination, encourage programming of Belgian and Congolese
artists in the DRC, Belgium and the wider international scene;
R12. Support the DRC in its ambition to achieve a
wider international cultural outreach in Africa and beyond notably through the development of a music or film industry;
R13. Foster the emergence of an African and Congolese art market in particular by using the
benefits of Belgium’s respectable place on
the world’s contemporary art scene;
4. Encourage interpersonal exchanges by restructuring the common Belgo-Congolese area
R14. Increase the mobility of persons between
Belgium and the DRC by lowering the barriers
presented by visa procedures and costs and
by the cost of air travel;
R15. Formalize all sorts of meetings between
Belgians and Congolese (twinning, meetings
of young people, university exchange programmes, etc) and set up an Institute of Belgo-Congolese Relations;
R16. Strengthen the active and constructive role
of the Congolese diaspora in the development of the DRC;
R17. Focus the development of human capital
and inter-university partnerships on the development needs of the DRC (energy, agriculture, infrastructure) and its opening to the
world;
R18. Exploit the new media and entertainment industries – two reality TV shows: one Belgian
show broadcast in Congo and one Congolese
show broadcast in Belgium.
FRIDAY GROUP GÉNÉRATION CONGO
11
CALL FOR
A CHANGE OF MINDSET
AND FOR ACTION
Not only do we believe that a new kind of BelgoCongolese relationship is possible in an unbiased and
win-win perspective; in our view, the time is also right
as we see different factors come together. Economic
emergence and growth is becoming reality in a number
of African countries, arousing enthusiasm across the
whole of that continent; the DRC has reached a crucial
stage in the stabilization of the country with the defeat
of M23; Belgium remains involved on the Congolese
scene, and the two countries can, while there is still time,
rely on the mutual knowledge and understanding of
their respective nations, which constitutes a distinctive
element of their bilateral relationship. We think that this
present context is ideal to strengthen Belgo-Congolese
relations which provide answers to the issues and
interests of the two countries.
It is in that belief that we want to make a twofold call
with this report. Firstly, a call to change our mindsets and
to count on the younger generations to do so: to leave
behind a mindset that is still all too often paternalistic,
that of "évolué vs. évoluant" concept; instead, to evolve
towards a modern conception where each can express
his interests and look for common ground. Secondly,
a call for action: an alignment of interests will only be
achieved through concrete initiatives at every level.
Our sole aim with this report is to provoke interest and
discussion, and to inspire new initiatives. We are indeed
convinced that redefining Belgo-Congolese relations
is an ambition of strategic importance and within the
capability of the new generations of our two countries.
12
REDEFINING BELGO-CONGOLESE RELATIONS
FRIDAY GROUP GÉNÉRATION CONGO
13
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FOOTNOTES
NDOMBASI Tshini Kueno, La diaspora congolaise
: un plus ou un moins pour la RDC ?, 2012 (http://
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1
Generation Y is a Western concept, see William Strauss,
Neil Howe (2000). Millennials Rising: The Next Great
Generation. Cartoons by R.J. Matson. New York, NY:
Vintage Original.
2
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3
Génération Congo, Newsletter n°2: « Faire de la RDC un
pays émergent : Défis et préalables ».
4
The "curse of natural resources" is an economic theory
which says that countries with an abundance of natural
resources tend to have less economic growth than other
countries due to (1) instability (political and security)
linked to the struggle to appropriate the revenues, (2)
risks associated with the volatility of raw materials
prices, and (3) the increase in the real exchange rate as
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COPYRIGHTS PHOTO
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FRIDAY GROUP GÉNÉRATION CONGO
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ABOUT
THE AUTHORS
NICOLAS BAISE
(Member of the Friday Group)
Nicolas is Principal of the Boston Consulting Group
where he advises the management of Belgian and
international companies on strategic, organizational or
operational issues, and supports those organizations
in major transformation programmes. Currently
based in Brussels, he also carried out those activities
in Mumbai (India). Nicolas, who is also actively
involved in community life, headed the "Kot-à-Projet"
movement of the UCL and was Vice-President of
the General Student Assembly of Louvain. He also
worked in Africa for the NGO “Louvain Coopération au
Développement”. Nicolas is a Commercial Engineer
(UCL) and holds a degree of Master in International
Management from the Community of European
Management Schools (CEMS).
JONATHAN HOLSLAG
(Member of the Friday Group)
Jonathan teaches international relations at the
VUB. His research centres on Asia and on the place
of Europe in a constantly changing world order. He
has published several books, dozens of specialist
articles, and opinion columns in newspapers such
as the Financial Times, the Guardian and the
International Herald Tribune. Jonathan has advised
several European institutions, Member States, and
multinational companies. He was also active on a
voluntary basis in various social organizations and at
one time gave lectures in secondary schools.
MADIMBA KADIMA-NZUJI
(Member of the Friday Group)
Madimba is currently Public Relations Director at
the communication agency OPTIMUM CORPORATE
COMMUNICATION. A book lover and lawyer by training,
Madimba first worked as a lecturer at the International
Free University of Brussels before returning to
Kinshasa as lecturer at the Free University of Kinshasa
and freelance journalist for the magazine OPTIMUM.
He was a member and president of Rotaract (1992-
16
REDEFINING BELGO-CONGOLESE RELATIONS
2002). He is currently a member of INEADEC, GRED
and Génération Congo. Madimba holds a specialist
degree (DES) in Economic Law (2003) and completed
a doctorate in International Economic Law at the
Catholic University of Louvain.
BLAISE MBATSHI
(Member of the Friday Group)
Blaise is Founder and Managing Partner of BMCG –
Management Consultants, a Kinshasa-based firm
specializing in consultancy and management and in
the supporting of foreign companies in the DRC. Blaise
began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory
in Brussels and subsequently became Adviser to the
Congolese Oil Minister. Blaise was a member of the
Youth Parliament of the French-speaking Community
from 2003 to 2006, and President of the Congolese
Student Association of Louvain (2002-2003). He
graduated as a Commercial Engineer from the Louvain
School of Management (2005).
SYLVAIN MUDIKONGO
(Member of the Friday Group)
Sylvain is Executive Director in charge of Africa at the
Russian investment bank VTB Capital. He has worked
for the merchant banks Morgan Stanley and Bank of
America in London and UBS in Chicago. Alongside his
professional career, Sylvain is closely involved in the
think tanks Chatham House in London and Club of
Rome in Winterthur. Sylvain graduated as a Robotics
Engineer from King's College in London.
FRANÇOIS TOUSSAINT
(Member of the Friday Group)
François works as an adviser at the Emile Vandervelde
Institute, the think tank of the Socialist Party. Before
that, he was Associate Director of Interel Belgium
where he advised businesses on public affairs and
communication. In 2007, he received the European
Spirit Award from the Bernheim Foundation. François,
who is actively involved in community life, set up a
"Kot-à-Projet" for Human Rights at the UCL, was
president of the Youth Parliament of the Frenchspeaking Community. François holds a university
degree in law (FUNDP, UCL and ICADE-Madrid) and
a Master’s degree in international relations and
diplomacy (University of Antwerp).
COLOPHON
Series
Friday Group, in association with Génération Congo
Cette publication existe aussi en français :
Réinventer les relations belgo-congolaises : une ambition
des nouvelles générations
Deze publicatie bestaat ook in het Nederlands onder de
titel:
De Belgisch-Congolese betrekkingen heruitvinden: een
ambitie van de nieuwe generaties
A publication of the King Baudouin Foundation,
Brederodestraat 21, 1000 Brussels
Authors
For the Friday Group: Nicolas Baise, Jonathan Holslag,
François Toussaint
For Génération Congo: Madimba Kadima-Nzuji, Blaise
Mbatshi, Sylvain Mudikongo
Translation
Coordination for the
King Baudouin Foundation
Graphic design and layout
Home Office
Brigitte Duvieusart
PuPiL
This publication can be downloaded free from our
website www.kbs-frb.be and from www.fridaygroup.be
Legal deposit
FR: D/2848/2014/19
NL: D/2893/2014/20
Order number
FR: 3237
NL: 3236
June 2014
FRIDAY GROUP GÉNÉRATION CONGO
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REDEFINING BELGO-CONGOLESE RELATIONS
FRIDAY GROUP GÉNÉRATION CONGO
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