Report of the Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights, Cephas Lumina: Addendum - Mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Summary

The Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights, visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 25 July to 5 August 2011. The primary objective of the mission was to assess the impact of the country’s external debt burden on the capacity of the Government to create the necessary conditions for the realization of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights, and to progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. He also explored the impact of the global economic recession on the country’s debt burden and the impact of commercial creditor ligation on debt relief, human rights and development.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has made important socio-economic progress since 2001. In 2010, it reached the completion point of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, gaining access to debt relief expected to significantly reduce its external debt (estimated at $13.1 billion in 2009) and to provide fiscal space for poverty reducing expenditure. Despite an increase in poverty reducing spending, access to basic services is insufficient and the costs and quality of services remain a concern.

The country also faces a number of critical development challenges, including the key post-conflict challenges of reconstruction and rehabilitation of its dilapidated socioeconomic infrastructure, an unstable security situation in parts of the country, lack of transparency and accountability in public finance management, widespread corruption and ineffective domestic resource mobilization. It also remains at high risk of debt distress. Unless these challenges are addressed, they will continue to undermine the country’s development agenda.