The M23 insurgents who routed Congo’s army to take control of the eastern part of one of Africa’s most populous nations now face a task as mundane as it is daunting: governing. - REUTERS
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00In Congo, the M23 rebels now face a mundane but daunting new task, governing.
00:07They've defeated Congo's army to take control of the eastern part of one of Africa's most populous nations.
00:14But the long-term success of their uprising depends, in large part, on reviving the economy in seized areas.
00:23This fabric vendor in the M23-controlled city of Goma
00:27complains that a crisis is mounting because virtually all banks are closed.
00:33With supply chains disrupted, prices of some staples have jumped.
00:38Currency shortages are another problem.
00:41On top of all that, the insurgents are now imposing new taxes on residents to finance their revolution,
00:47duties as high as 20 percent on small-time traders.
00:52This is Rochelle Monimpo, another fabric vendor.
00:57We have serious problems with the taxes.
01:01Customers no longer come, but at the end of each month, we are still asked to pay the tax.
01:09It is becoming very difficult for us to find the money to pay this tax.
01:13In the town of Rubaya, M23 has moved quickly to tighten its grip on a slice of Congo's vast mineral wealth.
01:23Mines here produce one-sixth of the world's supply of Colton, a metallic ore used in smartphones.
01:29M23 now charges a 15 percent tax on the value of the Colton production, according to rebel officials.
01:35That could mean up to $450,000 in monthly tax income for them, according to an estimate by one government expert.
01:44M23 is keen to demonstrate that life in rebel-held areas is returning to normal.
01:50The group has nominated governors and is training thousands of local administrators to take control of civil services.
01:57One analyst tells Reuters if M23 fails to shore up the economy and restore essential services,
02:05it could undermine the group's claims to legitimate governance.
02:08.
02:09.
02:09.
02:18.
02:19.
02:20.
02:21.