By Eric Morgen Moyo

DRC- The Democratic Republic of Congo, the second largest country in Africa by landmass is auctioning off land including in parts of the rainforest for oil drilling in a bid to generate revenue to be channeled towards national development objectives. DRC is home to the world’s second largest rainforest after the Amazon, and is often referred to as the lungs of Africa and earth because of its importance in storing carbon. The Congo rainforest also serves as a sanctuary for a number of endangered species such as Chimpanzees, Gorillas, and the African forest Elephants.

As of Thursday the 28th of July 2022, licensing rights for oil and gas blocks have already gone up for auction in the country extending to parts of the tropical rainforest. This has gone on despite concerns on how this development will not only impact the environment but will reverse the global efforts to reduce emissions. The rainforest absorbs approximately 5% of global CO2 emissions per annum. In response to concerns the government of DRC represented by the President, Felix Tshisekedi has expressed that the country is full of gas and oil reserves which have to be tapped into for the benefit of the people.
Greenpeace through its DRC representative Irene Wabiwa Betoko has likened the new development as setting alight an explosive carbon bomb.

“In a zone where there are peatlands, any industrial exploitation means the explosion of a carbon bomb,” Irene Wabiwa Betoko