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Unlocking Prosperity: How African Nations Can Harness Congo Basin's Economic Potential
Unlocking Prosperity: How African Nations Can Harness Congo Basin's Economic Potential
Sputnik Africa
A new report reveals Africa risks losing a twenty-three-trillion-dollar ecological fortune unless leaders act swiftly to protect and sustainably harness the... 10.12.2025, Sputnik Africa
2025-12-10T16:59+0100
2025-12-10T16:59+0100
2025-12-10T16:59+0100
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Unlocking Prosperity: How African Nations Can Harness Congo Basin's Economic Potential
Sputnik Africa
A new report reveals Africa risks losing a twenty-three-trillion-dollar ecological fortune unless leaders act swiftly to protect and sustainably harness the Congo Basin.
The Congo Basin stands at the center of Africa’s economic and ecological future, yet its true value remains largely ignored. Scientists in the region describe the basin as a living system that shapes climate, water, and biodiversity while carrying immense economic potential. They call for policies grounded in reliable data, stronger regional coordination, and transparent governance to move the continent away from destructive extraction and toward sustainable growth. Their work ranges from hydrology and peatland studies to real-time monitoring and community-run data stations, all designed to give decision makers the scientific evidence they need. With green financing, responsible value chains, and payment mechanisms for ecosystem services, they argue that the Basin can drive long-term prosperity by linking conservation with revenue and by equipping local communities to guide development that protects the forest’s ecological stability.African Currents spoke with two scientists from the Democratic Republic of Congo to uncover the basin’s concealed economic strength and what it means for the region.Jean-Felly Ngandu Kabuyi, program manager at the Congo Basin Water Resources Research Center (CRREBaC) at the University of Kinshasa, outlined how science-based innovations can improve the economic use of the basin’s forest resources while protecting their ecological integrity. He also explained how the region’s forest wealth can drive long-term economic development across Africa.For his part, Professor Raphael Muamba Tshimanga, Director of the Congo Basin Water Resources Research Center at the University of Kinshasa, highlighted the Basin’s role in stabilizing the global climate and sustaining millions of livelihoods across Africa. He called for stronger regional cooperation and careful management of its water and forest resources to ensure that economic growth does not compromise ecological preservation.Want to hear more from our guests? Catch the full conversation on the African Currents podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.Find our episodes not just on the website, but also on Telegram.► You can also stream our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Pocket Casts, Afripods, Podcast Addict.► Check out all the episodes of African Currents.
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Unlocking Prosperity: How African Nations Can Harness Congo Basin's Economic Potential
A new report reveals Africa risks losing a twenty-three-trillion-dollar ecological fortune unless leaders act swiftly to protect and sustainably harness the Congo Basin.
The Congo Basin stands at the center of Africa’s economic and ecological future, yet its true value remains largely ignored. Scientists in the region describe the basin as a living system that shapes climate, water, and biodiversity while carrying immense economic potential. They call for policies grounded in reliable data, stronger regional coordination, and transparent governance to move the continent away from destructive extraction and toward sustainable growth. Their work ranges from hydrology and peatland studies to real-time monitoring and community-run data stations, all designed to give decision makers the scientific evidence they need. With green financing, responsible value chains, and payment mechanisms for ecosystem services, they argue that the Basin can drive long-term prosperity by linking conservation with revenue and by equipping local communities to guide development that protects the forest’s ecological stability.
African Currents spoke with two scientists from the Democratic Republic of Congo to uncover the basin’s concealed economic strength and what it means for the region.
Jean-Felly Ngandu Kabuyi, program manager at the Congo Basin Water Resources Research Center (CRREBaC) at the University of Kinshasa, outlined how science-based innovations can improve the economic use of the basin’s forest resources while protecting their ecological integrity. He also explained how the region’s forest wealth can drive long-term economic development across Africa.
"The Congo Basin is not only a forest. It's a living infrastructure [...]. African countries can responsibly unlock the Congo Basin's economic potential through integrated management based on scientific data [...]. The Commonwealth [Congo Basin] in our region represents one of Africa's greatest opportunities to build a green economy based on science, on innovation, and on community leadership. So if we invest in knowledge, if we strengthen governance in our region, and if we empower local actors, the basin can generate lasting prosperity. While it remains ecologically functional. So the sustainability is not just a cost, you know; it is a strategy for long-term growth," Kabuyi said.
For his part, Professor Raphael Muamba Tshimanga, Director of the Congo Basin Water Resources Research Center at the University of Kinshasa, highlighted the Basin’s role in stabilizing the global climate and sustaining millions of livelihoods across Africa. He called for stronger regional cooperation and careful management of its water and forest resources to ensure that economic growth does not compromise ecological preservation.
Want to hear more from our guests? Catch the full conversation on the African Currents podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
Find our episodes not just on the website, but also on
Telegram.► Check out all the episodes of African Currents. 
