Despite losing out on a potential $7.8bn in revenue, Kinshasa has yet to take any action on the contentious oil blocks run by Angola in Congolese waters.
According to credible sources, the DRC’s government has been slow to respond to reports of Angola’s exploration of oil in Blocks 14 and 15, which lie in waters claimed by both countries. The blocks are estimated to contain up to 1.5 billion barrels of crude oil, with a value of approximately $87bn at current prices.
A recent report by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) ruled that Angola had no legal right to explore oil in the disputed blocks, but the DRC has so far failed to enforce the ruling.
The DRC’s apparent inaction has raised concerns among citizens and international observers who fear that the government may be neglecting the country’s interests in favour of Angola’s.
In addition to losing out on revenue, the DRC risks ceding control over its maritime territory to Angola, which could have broader geopolitical implications.