Dissecting the intersection of
Economics, Geopolitics & Financial Markets
One can't emphasise enough, the significance of the Democratic Republic of Congo´s first ever international bonds - a country at the centre of so many geopolitical and exploitative tugs-of-war for 150 years.
Some DRC Facts & Stats:
- Twice the combined size of France & Spain
- A population of over 100mn that grows by 3mn a year
- Total GDP at ca. $90bn in 2025, with GDP per capita at ca. $800
- One of the lowest debt/GDP ratios in the world (19% - chart below)
- 2019 saw the first ever democratic transfer of power
- Mining=30-45% of GDP (depending on metals prices)
- ca. 75% of world's Cobalt production and top 3 producer of Copper
- Mines or holds other critical minerals (e.g. Niobium, Tantalum)
- Ongoing tension with Rwanda causes humanitarian crisis (7mn people internally displaced) - Washington Accords are a major incentive for peace
- 26mn people face "acute food insecurity"
Data Sources: IMF WEO, USGS, WFP, UNHCR
