Kamate warns Congo communities are at riskCEFR B1
15 Mar 2026
Adapted from Guest Contributor, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Dieuvain Musaghi, Unsplash
François Kaserake Kamate is a climate and human rights activist from eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. He has spent thirteen years in non‑violent movements and warns that international silence and exploitation risk erasing communities and livelihoods in the DRC.
Kamate describes a ‘‘resource curse’’. Although the country is rich in minerals used in phones, electric cars and batteries, many people remain poor. Militias and state forces abuse civilian rights, and armed groups can act in the interests of multinational companies or receive support from neighbouring countries to reach mineral wealth.
He says three local problems sustain power and violence: ignorance about rights, poverty that limits choices, and corruption that buys loyalty. He criticises some international projects for ignoring local voices and calls for solidarity, hope and peaceful action for change.
Difficult words
- activist — person who works for social change
- livelihood — way people earn money and survivelivelihoods
- militia — armed group not part of the regular armyMilitias
- corruption — use of power for private gain
- resource curse — wealth that causes harm instead of development‘‘resource curse’’
- company — business that sells goods or servicesmultinational companies
- ignorance — lack of knowledge about important facts
- solidarity — support and unity among a group
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How can international projects include local voices better in resource areas?
- What peaceful actions could people take to support communities facing exploitation?
- Why might silence from outside countries make the situation worse for local people?
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