Les Chinois en République démocratique du Congo | |
|---|---|
  | |
 | |
| Total population | |
| 5,000–50,000[1] (2015) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Kinshasa,Katanga | |
| Languages | |
| Mandarin,French,Lingala and otherLanguages of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. | |
| Religion | |
| Irreligion,Buddhism, minority ofRoman Catholicism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Overseas Chinese |
In theDemocratic Republic of the Congo there is a significant community ofChinese migrants located in the capital ofKinshasa and the mineral rich southernHaut-Katanga Province. According to official figures from the Chinese embassy, there are 5,000 Chinese living in the DR Congo, though the actual number is believed to be far higher.[1] More recent estimates vary from 5,000 to 50,000. Themining industry of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a main reason for Chinese people moving to the DRC.[2]
Business links, both by individual entrepreneurs and state owned enterprises, has brought Chinese migration to the DRC.
The first wave of migrants were individuals who opened stores, restaurants, and private medical clinics.[3] Chinese run stores in Kinshasa are typically scattered across neighborhoods and are not concentrated in anyChinatown.[4] The stores carry a range of household goods and change money.[4]
Some small scale entrepreneurs are in mining. InKatanga Province 60 of the 75 mineral processing plants are owned by Chinese entrepreneurs.[5] Chinese employers have been criticized for their use ofchild labor and lack of health and safety standards.[5]
Major deals have been signed by Chinese state owned companies and the DRC government. In 2012, Chinese investors and the Export-Import Bank of China offered to build $6 billion worth of infrastructure as part of a loan backed by collateral in mineral rights.[6] These state owned enterprises have brought Chinese employees to the country.[3]
Congolese mobs have attacked Chinese businesses on at least two occasions. In December 2010, local team TP Mazembe lost to Italian clubInter Milan.[7] Mobs inLubumbashi were angered by the calls made by a Japanese referee who was mistaken for Chinese, provoking attacks on Chinese businesses in the city.[7]
Duringprotests in January 2015 against the government ofJoseph Kabila, Chinese businesses in the Kinshasa neighborhoods ofNgaba andKalamu were targeted for destruction.[1] AnAgence France-Presse article on the attacks reported the motivation for violence was both resentment by local businesses that had difficulty competing against the low prices of Chinese run stores and association by rioters of Chinese nationals running stores with investment deals concluded by Chinese companies and the government.[1]
