By Jean Baptiste Ndabananiye
This article marks the beginning of “Echoes of the Earth: From the Congo Basin to the Amazon,” a project by Life In Humanity that examines the critical impact of these forests on global ecosystems, climate, and local communities. At the Heads of State and Government Summit in Brazzaville, Congo, on April 23, 2018, leaders—including President Paul Kagame—discussed the operationalization of the Congo Basin Climate Commission and the Congo Basin Blue Fund. They emphasized the interdependence of countries reliant on the basin’s vast resources.
President Kagame called for the Congo Basin Blue Fund, targeting a €3 billion capital goal, to support sustainable development through forest preservation and economic initiatives. This series will explore the importance of the Congo Basin for Rwanda, highlighting biodiversity connections, climate interdependence, and economic opportunities that underpin local livelihoods.
- A continental commitment: harnessing the Congo Basin’s power for sustainable prosperity
- Why did Morocco king participate in the meeting while the basin doesn’t reach Morocco?
A continental commitment: harnessing the Congo Basin’s power for sustainable prosperity
Heads of State and Government Summit on the operationalization of the Congo Basin Climate Commission and the Congo Basin Blue Fund in Brazzaville, Congo was held on 23 April 2018. Those are words which feature on the website of Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP).
The president of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, was one of the participants in this summit. In its April 29, 2018 article, KT Press reported that the President Kagame underlined the mammoth importance of the Congo Basin not only regionally but also continentally and globally. “The prosperity we seek for our continent requires that we go the extra step to mitigate climate change, and develop our economies more sustainably. The signing two years ago, of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, was a remarkable demonstration of global commitment to building a more sustainable future for all of us.
While efforts continue to reach universal ratification, and translate the Agreement into action, global warming continues to adversely and disproportionately affect many of our countries,” he said before adding “The water resources of the Congo Basin connect our countries and support the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people. This makes us interdependent on many levels. We must therefore cooperate more in managing these shared resources, in order to safeguard food security, public health and economic opportunities.”
President Kagame emphasized that supporting the Congo Basin Blue Fund initiative was essential for attaining the Sustainable Development Goals and Africa’s Agenda 2063. This fund, which had to operate on an estimated capital of €3 billion, intended to develop the economy of the Congo basin in the long term, through various initiatives. The latter ones were to involve providing other alternatives to deforestation, strengthening irrigation of farmland in the savannah and supporting eco-tourism.
According to KT Press, the sum might scare some players, but Kagame underscored that the outcome transcended everything. “Given what is at stake, the benefits envisioned in the Congo Basin cooperation initiative far outweighs the cost of setting up the fund,” he declared. “So let’s not waste any more time in this important work to unlock Africa’s full socio-economic potential.”
He pointed out that next step was to combine efforts and seek resources for the fund. He specified that the public private partnership was required at both local, regional and international level to establish the fund. He also said that better coordination and complementarity of players during the implementation of planned projects would also generate good results. “The Government of Rwanda is ready to play its part.” Life In Humanity will come back to this fund which must have been launched in 2020 and aims to provide US$10.5 billion over the next ten years, to assess its effectiveness.
The Congo Basin forest represents roughly 70% of Africa’s forest cover. It is situated in six countries namely Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Central Africa Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo. It however greatly benefits so numerous countries including Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia among others and the entire world as our next article in this series will clarify it.
Meanwhile, WorldRainforests originated as the rainforest section of the website –Mongabay- in its 1st August 2020 article says that nine nations possess part of their territory in the Congo Basin. It nonetheless agrees that conventionally the six countries with extensive forest cover in the region are generally associated with the Congo Basin rainforest. Though WorldRainforests mentions nine nations, we have found that this number ought to be 11.
In addition to the six countries, WorldRainforests says that other countries holding part of their territory in the basin include Angola, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia. It signifies that these 11 countries include those which are wholly and partially located in the basin. There are sources that incorporate Uganda to the list of countries sharing in this basin.
The words by the President Kagame and the gathering which brought the dignitaries prove the undeniable significance of the basin for these countries. Some of the personalities who attended the event involved Alpha Conde— the then president of Guinea, Ali Bongo—then Gabon president, Macky Sall—then Senegal president, Angola’s Joao Lourenco, Mahammadou Issoufou— the then president of Niger, Central African Republic’s Faustin Archange Touadera, and King Mohammed VI of Morrocco.
Ten countries then signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the Congo Basin Blue Fund. Besides Rwanda, those were Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Morocco, and Republic of Congo.
Why did Morocco king participate in the meeting while the basin doesn’t reach Morocco?
Morocco’s participation in the 2018 Congo Basin Climate Commission Summit in the Republic of Congo additionally substantiates the gargantuan importance of the basin. His participation must have stemmed from Morocco’s strong commitment to African environmental issues and regional solidarity rather than geographical ties to the Congo Basin. King Mohammed VI has positioned environmental protection and climate action as key pillars of Morocco’s foreign policy, especially within Africa.
King Mohammed VI has established an environmental foundation named “Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection.” Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa, from the beginning, was entrusted with chairing this foundation created in June 2001. Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa is the youngest daughter of the late King Hassan II of Morocco and the sister of the King Mohammed VI. Born on November 19, 1967, Princess Lalla Hasnaa is widely recognized for her strong commitment to environmental causes and cultural initiatives. She has been especially active in promoting environmental awareness, sustainable development, and education on ecological issues within Morocco and beyond.
As the president of the foundation, Princess Lalla Hasnaa leads various initiatives focused on conservation, environmental education, and promoting sustainable practices. Her work often targets public awareness about the environment, particularly encouraging young people to be more environmentally responsible.
Princess Lalla Hasnaa also represents Morocco in numerous international conferences and events on environmental protection and climate action, transforming her into a prominent advocate for Morocco’s environmental efforts on the global stage. Her work aligns with King Mohammed VI’s focus on environmental protection as a key element of Morocco’s national and international policies.
In this regard, Morocco has taken a leadership role in various African initiatives relating to climate resilience, renewable energy, and environmental sustainability. As host of the COP (Conference of the Parties)22 climate conference in 2016, Morocco demonstrated its commitment to combating climate change on the African continent. This aligns with the Congo Basin Climate Commission’s goals which seek to preserve the forest ecosystem that plays a crucial role in regulating the global climate.
Through Morocco’s involvement, the king must have been seeking to foster stronger African unity on climate initiatives, support sustainable development, and enhance Morocco’s diplomatic influence across Africa by contributing expertise and resources to climate action efforts.
Life In Humanity has not managed to determine the unquestionable reason why the king attended the summit, but these words in a story published by The North Africa Post on 29th April 2018 imply it. “This Brazzaville summit is a recognition of the pioneering role played by Morocco in defending the environmental interests of the African continent, combining humanism, sustainable development and good governance.”
But again we can argue that the summit figured among the key priorities of the king’s arrival in Congo, as it is even suggested by The North Africa Post with these words, citing the Royal Office said in a statement. “After the summit, which will take place on Sunday, the King will pay a working and friendship visit to the Republic of Congo during which he will have bilateral talks with President Denis Sassou-Nguesso.” Besides, the fact that Morocco signed the memorandum of understanding substantiates that the summit represented one of the major priorities for the king’s arrival in Brazaville.
Great importance of the Congo Basin forest specifically for Rwanda
No necessity to single out the basin’s significance for Rwanda, since it has already been indicated that Rwanda is connected with the basin; which justifies its massive importance for this country.
Moreover, as already implied, the Congo Basin alongside the Amazon Basin plays a significant role in the health of the entire Earth as our next article in this series will explain it. Furthermore, the Congo Basin constitutes the lungs of Africa; which is confirmed by the World Bank.
This global institution in its 24, 2022 article “Journey into the Congo Basin – The Lungs of Africa and Beating Heart of the World”, it reports “Known as the “lungs of Africa”, the Congo Basin is the largest carbon sink in the world, absorbing more carbon than the Amazon. Spanning across six countries, its rainforest provides food security and an essential lifeline for indigenous and local populations and serves as a critical habitat for endangered species.
Preserving the Congo Basin forests is vital not just for the future of Africa, but for that of the world. Global efforts to tackle the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss will depend on preserving this rich and lush ecosystem. Gabon annually absorbs carbon emissions equivalent to a third of France’s annual total. The Republic of Congo alone absorbs 1.5% of the world’s entire annual carbon emissions.” If the basin forms the lungs of Africa and the beating heart of the world and that Rwanda is situated in both of them– Africa and the world, Rwanda benefits undoubtedly from the existence of the basin considerably, especially as it shares in this basin.
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