Congo Unrest Disrupts Critical Mine Reforms

This is one of the saddest stories I have ever read. The country has been a disaster since Mobutu Sese Seko, who was the US's darling: his anti-communism kept the Soviets out. Yet his corruption was flagrant, massive, and unchecked.

As rebel fighting in eastern Congo threatens to escalate into a regional conflict, government officials in Kinshasa have put on hold important decisions affecting the mining industry, a delay that likely pushes back international investment plans and undercuts the country's efforts to rebuild its shattered economy.

International companies have scrambled to secure mining rights in Congo, which has vast reserves of cobalt, copper, tin and diamonds. But the country has been racked by years of civil war and cross-border fighting. Elections in 2006, the country's first in 40 years, appeared to ease some of the instability.

View Slideshow

Refugees Struggle in Congo

It has vast resources, but has been racked with misery since the days of Belgian colonialism.

Congo needs the additional money. The country's central bank last week trimmed its annual growth forecast for next year to less than 10% from about 11%, citing waning demand for Congo's metals and unplanned violence-related spending. Craig Andrews, a World Bank analyst, said he would be surprised if growth topped 6% next year.

Angola, Now Calmer and Flush With Oil Cash, Faces a Vote

Over time, things change.

Angola? Isn't that a cat?

This was a precious one, and I can't let it go by. Libraries can be interesting places to observe human nature.

A woman came in Wednesday afternoon, about 40, nicely-enough dressed. She needed some research material for Angola during the Cold War.

An hour or so earlier a mother and her son had been at the Reference Desk asking the same question. I found three books that pertained to the topic; two were out. So I gave the youngster the call number of the third, and suggested he also look at a Kissinger biography.

So when the second mother asked about Angola during the Cold War, I told her all the books we had were out, as I had earlier helped the other young man. He had told me, I said to her, that he was working with three others in a team; was her son part of that team? She had no idea.

I suggested Reference books, and she agreed she could copy the relevant pages. I found a Cold War encyclopedia, and gave it to her. I also suggested she look at a Kissinger biography, or perhaps a Nixon biography, where she might find additional material. I said I remembered that Nixon and Kissinger dealt with Angola.

She said I remember the Cold War, but Angola? No. She added she had no idea where Angola is. I gently said West Africa, and left it at that.

So here she was, doing her son's research, and she had no idea where Angola is. Oy vay.