KINSHASA, 31 JAN – “Hands off the Democratic Republic of Congo, hands off Africa! Stop suffocating Africa: it is not a mine to be exploited or land to be plundered”. This is the strong appeal of the Pope from Kinshasa. “It is tragic that these places, and more generally the African continent, still suffer from various forms of exploitation. After the political one, an equally enslaving ‘economic colonialism’ was unleashed. Thus this country, extensively plundered, is unable to benefit sufficiently from its immense resources: the paradox has come that the fruits of its land make it ‘foreign’ to its inhabitants. The poison of greed has made its blood diamonds”. (HANDLE).
(ANSA)
