Category: Health
The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is threatening to stall talks on a deal that the United States is pushing to establish a minerals partnership in the world’s most mineral-rich country, and is also worrying investors about DRC’s future as a place where strategic investments are made.
The outbreak that has killed almost 800 people has led the authorities to put in place measures of quarantine in the affected zones, while the implementation of the United States – Congo Strategic Partnership Agreement is being hampered. The deal will help increase cooperation in the production and supply of critical minerals, including copper, cobalt, and molybdenum, which are vital for electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy, and electronics.
Planned meetings and site visits which were required to progress the agreement have been postponed due to movement restrictions and public health concerns, officials said. This situation has also led to the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa recommending that U.S. citizens refrain from traveling to affected areas until the outbreak is contained.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is the biggest producer of cobalt, accounting for a large proportion of global cobalt production. Disruptions to mining activities or trade talks between countries could impact supplies to the world market, especially as demand for battery minerals grows.
Health authorities are still ramping up surveillance, contact tracing and treatment in impacted communities to stop the virus from spreading. International partners are also contributing in response efforts with medical supplies, technical assistance and emergency funding.
Containment is the government’s priority to control the outbreak, and experts in public health say it will depend largely on containment efforts to restore investor and development partner confidence.
Delays in the strategic minerals partnership could impact future investment opportunities and hinder joint effort to improve collaboration between the two nations, economic analysts say. But both governments say they will stand by the agreement as long as there is an improvement in public health conditions, they said.
The relationship between public health and economic development is quite close and the Ebola outbreak has been a reminder of this. The DRC will likely still remain a key player in the global minerals industry, but the continued investment in disease prevention, healthcare infrastructure and emergency response systems will be crucial in ensuring the protection of lives and long-term economic growth.
Authorities have put on a show of them staying fully engaged in containment, while keeping the essential services going in affected areas. Meanwhile, international health bodies are closely monitoring the situation and are working hard to stop further transmission of the disease.
By: Gertrude Darkoa