Oil and Minerals found in common deposits along the DRC-Uganda border will be jointly exploited by the two countries according to reports emerging from Kinshasa.
Details indicate that Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi has ratified a package of agreements between DRC and Uganda that have been pending since 1990 and 2008.
In September, 2024 DRCs National Assembly and the Senate adopted Law No. 24/022 authorizing the ratification of the cooperation agreement and its amendment on the exploitation of hydrocarbons and joint deposits between the government of Uganda and DRC. It was promulgated by President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi.
This agreement had been signed in Kampala on June 23, 1990 and January 25, 2008 respectively according to the Minister of Hydrocarbons, Aimé Molendo Sakombi.
Aimé Molendo Sakombi had earlier stressed during the Council of Ministers, held in November 2024, that it was necessary to prevent Uganda which is currently in advanced phase of oil exploitation from unilateraly exploiting common deposits located along the border.
DRC fears that Uganda would carryout unilateral exploitation or intentional modification of the border line in its favor.
Article 4 of the agreement stipulates that any common deposit will be developed and exploited jointly as an indivisible entity.
“By ratifying this cooperation agreement, our country wants to encourage and facilitate comprehensive and systematic geophysical activities as well as other oil exploration activities in the probable Zone of Common Interest (ZCI) with Uganda. This ratification therefore constitutes a prerequisite for the implementation of the recommendations formulated in particular in the Ngurdoto agreement, signed in Tanzania on September 8, 2007, relating to bilateral cooperation between the DRC and Uganda,” said Aimé Molendo Sakombi in the government report.
Under his Presidency, Tshisekedi has maintained stable relations with President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda. The two governments have cooperation agreements for economy and security.
The ratification of this agreement complies with the provisions of Article 214, paragraph 1, of the Constitution of DRC which stipulates: “Peace treaties, trade treaties, treaties and agreements relating to international organizations and the settlement of international conflicts, those which engage public finances, those which modify legislative provisions, those which relate to the status of persons, those which involve the exchange and addition of territory may only be ratified or approved by virtue of a law.”