Mbujimayi. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has put in place a new plan that will see the mineral-rich country benefit more from its natural resources.

Instead of allowing third parties to exploit the minerals that the DRC is endowed with, the country has started to directly talk with mineral buyers from around the world so that it can do business with them directly.

“We want to introduce a system where DRC will be selling its minerals and other resources to buyers directly instead of letting other countries and people act as third parties,” Finance Minister Nicolaus Kazadi told reporters in the town of Mbujimayi in central DRC.

He was briefing reporters on the sidelines of a campaign rally addressed by President Felix Tshisekedi, the presidential candidate for the ruling Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS).

DRC will hold its election on December 20 this year, with 26 people battling for the presidency and 47,000 others competing for parliamentary, senate and local government seats.

Also read: Tshisekedi: DR Congo's leader pledging to cement progress

Mr Kazadi noted that instability in the eastern part of the country has negatively impacted the country’s economy as it has allowed other countries to benefit from DRC natural resources.

“There are other countries that have used the instability to exploit minerals and other resources and sell the same to major buyers around the world as if it were theirs. We want to put a stop to that system. We have started to talk directly with the buyers so that we can do business with them directly instead of going through a third party,” he said.

For his part, Communication Minister Patrick Muyaya said the DRC government has let go of the East Africa Community (EAC) peacekeeping forces because they are not fulfilling their mandate as agreed.

“Not only EAC forces, but people are angry with even Monusco (the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC), which has been here for more than 20 years but has nothing tangible to show as far as stabilising eastern Congo is concerned,” said Mr Muyaya.

During the rally, President Tshisekedi urged DRC people to open their eyes and be wary of politicians who were dishing out promises that they could not fulfil.

“It is time for the population to open their eyes. Our country is heavily exploited. Every Congolese must stand up to defend the homeland,” he said, adding:

“The enemies of our country are found among the presidential candidates. They are here; be careful. You know well the war raging in the east of our country. But I am determined to fight to overcome insecurity in the east of our country.”

Also read: DRC elections: Factors that have shaped Tshisekedi’s bumpy first term

Tshisekedi said that if he wins the second term, he intends to integrate the army and the police in order to create a strong force that will protect the territorial integrity of the DRC.

“During my second term, we will improve the conditions of our soldiers and police because we must be strong to face our enemies. I am committed to continuing our programme for 145 territories as well as the free secondary education programme,” he noted.

Some 43.9 million people have registered to vote for the election in which President Tshisekedi faces stiff competition from a businessman cum politician, Moise Katumbi. Four of the 26 presidential hopefuls have announced their withdrawal from the race and rallied behind Katumbi, putting more pressure on Tshisekedi.