Congo, Democratic Republic of: Section 2 - Market Overview

摘要

The defense market in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is nominally open to U.S. and European defense enterprises; however, the unstable political environment coupled with complex arms trade regulations and lack of financing methods present significant barriers for market entry and business development. The U.N. lifted its arms sanction on the provision of arms sales to the Kinshasa-based government and the Armees de la Republique de Congo (FARDC) in March 2008, yet continues to implement arms sanctions against the militia forces of rebel Gen. Laurent Nkunda and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Rwanda (DFLR). Given the lack of distinction between government forces, the government-supported DFLR, and Nkunda's militia forces, it remains difficult to conduct legitimate arms transactions. Moreover, as violence between these groups has begun to rise following the dissolution of a peace agreement in August 2008, the ability to conduct business in the DRC has been significantly impeded. In addition, as lucrative mining operations throughout the DRC's lucrative mineral-rich eastern provinces have been shut down, taxed, or captured by advancing rebel forces, the government's primary source of hard currency has begun to evaporate. Given the culmination of rising conflict and uncertain political and fiscal environments, the DRC remains outside the purview of most Western defense enterprises.