Republic of Congo should prioritize agriculture to shift from oil dependency: president

President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo has envisioned a future where agriculture plays a pivotal role in shifting the country away from its heavy reliance on oil and toward a more diversified economy.

In an interview with China Media Group (CMG) in early September, Nguesso expressed immense pride in the completion of the No. 1 National Highway, a vital road in the Republic of Congo, emphasizing that it stands as a testament to the close collaboration between Congo and China, rooted in the vision of the Belt and Road Initiative.

"Indeed. I'm glad that you visited this big project. The construction of this road faced unprecedented challenges. Back in colonial times, we would never have been able to complete such a project. Today, as a result of close cooperation between the Republic of Congo and China, we are very proud to have built this road. All of this is based on the blueprint of the Belt and Road Initiative," he said,

When talking about the economic landscape of the Republic of Congo, where oil remains a cornerstone industry, he outlined a plan to develop agriculture by harnessing the untapped potential of the country's abundant arable land, water resources, and sunlight.

"I want to say that the Republic of Congo should not rely solely on oil in the future. It has more potential than that. We have more than 10 million hectares of arable land, and less than one-tenth has been developed. We have abundant water resources and abundant sunshine all year round. Thus, we place agriculture at a strategic level as a top priority of the development plan from 2022 to 2026. It covers various fields, such as fishery”, the President said.

He emphasized the importance of developing an agricultural system resilient to climate change, referencing his in-depth discussion with President Xi Jinping on reducing reliance on natural rainfall through the promotion of irrigation systems.

"I had an in-depth discussion with President Xi on how to build an agricultural system that does not rely merely on natural rainfall in this country, which has fertile land, rich water resources, and constant sunshine. Given the challenges posed by climate change, agriculture should not rely on irregular rainfall, even though water resources are abundant. For this reason, we are promoting a key agricultural development project focused on constructing irrigation systems," he said.

In early September, Nguesso visited Beijing for an official state visit to China and to attend the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

Republic of Congo should prioritize agriculture to shift from oil dependency: president

Displaced Palestinians in Egypt marked Eid al-Fitr, a celebration traditionally filled with family gatherings, with profound sorrow over their separation from loved ones in the Gaza Strip.

Eid-al-Fitr marks the end of the Muslim holy month of fasting (Ramadan) and the beginning of the new month in the lunar calendar. It is typically a time for joyous family reunions across the Muslim world.

However, thousands of displaced Palestinians in Egypt spent Eid al-Fitr without the embrace of family this year.

Naema Alsoury, one of the many Palestinians who fled the war in Gaza seeking medical treatment in Egypt, reflected on the painful reality of her situation.

Her young son, who has suffered from eye cancer since he was four months old, requires constant care. As a mother of five, Naema Alsoury managed to bring four of her children to Egypt, while her eldest son and husband remained behind in Gaza.

"Eid al-Fitr in Egypt is beautiful but only for those with a clear mind. I woke up happy that the kids are excited to celebrate Eid. But as I saw cars with families going for the prayer-- husbands and wives together and families, I thought I can't hug my son or husband. I can't be truly happy during Eid. This is my third Eid here without my mother, my sister and my brothers. What Eid al-Fitr is that? I live in fear, because no one knows the fate of those in Gaza -- who will live and who will die," said Naema Alsoury.

Recently, one of Naema Alsoury's uncles, along with some other family members, managed to reach Egypt for medical treatment. Her nephew spoke of the stark differences in living conditions between Egypt and Gaza.

"My nephew pointed out to me the differences between Egypt and Gaza. I may have not paid attention to that. I was talking to them via video call. He told his mother, they have electricity. Their TV is on. They can charge their mobile phone anytime. We can go to the toilet any time and there is always water there. We don't have that in Gaza now," said Naema Alsoury.

Egyptians across many cities have used the annual Eid al-Fitr Prayer gathering to support Palestinians in the besieged enclave.

"Eid this year and the year before has been different because we are very sad about what's happening to our Palestinian Brothers, that they are getting forced to leave their land. They are facing injustice. As Egyptians we support our President's calls to reject displacement, they are our Arab brothers. We support them," said Islam El Hawary, an Egyptian citizen.

Displaced Palestinians in Egypt mark Eid al-Fitr amid heartache, separation from family