Natural Resources Use in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Natural resources are the foundation for the livelihoods of the population in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where the economy is mainly based on agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and mining activities. Due to its ownership of more than 60% of the Congo River Basin, the DRC has the greatest potential in Africa in the sectors of water and energy. Despite that, the majority of the Congolese population does not have access to clean water and energy. The country has also abundant arable land, about 80 million hectares, but food insecurity is among the major issues that face the Congolese population. This country has been described as a “geological scandal” because of its amazing mineral wealth. It can also be considered a “biodiversity scandal” due to its complex ecosystems which include the world’s second-largest tropical rain forest. These natural resources constitute an opportunity for the implementation of sustainable development programs in this country. However, the DRC struggles to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is still among the poorest countries in the word. This situation can be attributed to the poor management of natural resources, the poor implementation of public policy, and the long years of conflicts and political instability that have characterized this country over the last decade. Thus, considerable efforts are necessary to improve the living conditions of the Congolese population without depleting the country’s vast natural resources. This entry is based on the sustainable development framework to present the state, challenges, and opportunities associated with the natural resources use in DRC.