Rape of Sovereignty: OTRAG in Zaire

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Periodical article

Title:	Rape of Sovereignty: OTRAG in Zaire
Author:	Kalamiya, Charles K.
Year:	1979
Periodical:	Review of African Political Economy
Volume:	6
Issue:	14
Period:	January-April
Pages:	16-35
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Congo (Democratic Republic of)
Subjects:	tenancy foreign enterprises Politics and Government Economics and Trade international relations
External link:	https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03056247908703382
Abstract:	In 1976, the Mobutu regime concluded a 'lease contract' with the West German rocket corporation OTRAG (Orbital Transport und Raketen-Gesellschaft), under which the German corporation gained 'sweeping rights' amounting to 'almost exclusive dominion' over 'a vast region' of Zaire. Why and how could the Mobutu regime, however despicable and discredited, have 'voluntarily' concluded such an 'extraordinary contract'? What are the terms of the contract and what do they imply for the people of the area and their resources? What is the legality of the contract? The present article deals with these questions, providing a juridical analysis of the provisions of the agreement and assessing some of the political implications of this contract for the total liberation of Africa from racism, colonialism and neo-colonialism. Editors' note, bibliographic note.