Miners are rapacious and exploit poor African countries. Botswana is a paragon of good governance and the Democratic Republic of Congo is a hopeless basket case. That is the received wisdom—but J. Edward Conway asks if it is true. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the most corrupt countries in the world, one of the most dangerous, and one of the riskiest places for foreign investment. It is also one of the planet’s most resource-rich countries. The DRC’s water resources alone could solve Africa’s energy challenges through hydroelectric power. The DRC’s agricultural prospects, if realised, could feed…
