WEBVTT 00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:06.160 Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. With a population 00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:12.320 of over 14 million, itís the largest French-speaking city in the world. 00:00:13.039 --> 00:00:15.639 The streets are bustling with activity. 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:19.159 Many people take on multiple jobs to get by. 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:34.240 Among them are couriers, street-sweepers, maggot sellers, bread 00:00:34.240 --> 00:00:36.719 sellers, and jewelers. 00:00:38.759 --> 00:00:42.359 Each day they count their earnings, dreaming of becoming one of 00:00:42.359 --> 00:00:43.679 Congoís super-rich. 00:00:47.240 --> 00:00:50.960 Everyone in Congo dreams of getting rich. Thereís money if you 00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:52.480 know where to find it. 00:00:53.079 --> 00:00:57.399 But large parts of the population live below the poverty line. 00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:03.680 Albert is a fisherman. He earns less than one euro seventy cents per day. 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:08.199 Just opposite from his poor neighborhood live some of Congoís 00:01:08.200 --> 00:01:09.280 richest people. 00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:17.520 Thatís ìLa CitÈ du Fleuve.î The rich live there. They do business deals, 00:01:17.519 --> 00:01:19.200 we catch fish. 00:01:23.159 --> 00:01:27.640 The residential complex is for Congoís new upper class, including 00:01:27.640 --> 00:01:29.439 the countryís millionaires. 00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:35.079 Uninvited guests arenít allowed in. 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:46.200 Fally Ipupa has the kind of life most Congolese can only dream of. 00:01:47.239 --> 00:01:51.199 I never imagined Iíd have multiple cars. I just wanted to sing and 00:01:51.200 --> 00:01:54.480 make a name for myself in Kinshasa and in Africa. 00:01:58.239 --> 00:02:04.119 Fally Ipupa is the DRCís biggest star, and heís known internationally. He 00:02:04.120 --> 00:02:06.000 is also a multi-millionaire. 00:02:06.840 --> 00:02:07.840 ant a photo? 00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:11.360 My God, I love you man! 00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:12.800 I love you too. 00:02:17.479 --> 00:02:22.000 Heís just invested more than 600,000 euros in a new home in ìLa 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:23.080 CitÈ du Fleuve.î 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:26.639 Are the doors open? Go on, open them! 00:02:30.919 --> 00:02:36.000 I really like being here, especially on Sundays. I can relax here. Iíve 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:39.240 always liked coming to the river with my family, so I decided to put 00:02:39.240 --> 00:02:40.439 down a few bricks. 00:02:43.879 --> 00:02:47.519 Those ìfew bricksî amount to a Californian style villa, which stands 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:51.520 out here in the DRC, one of the worldís poorest countries in terms 00:02:51.520 --> 00:02:52.719 of GDP per capita. 00:02:53.599 --> 00:02:57.199 It doesnít have to be that way. With its abundance of mineral 00:02:57.199 --> 00:03:01.719 resources, the DRC could be one of the richest countries in Africa. 00:03:02.680 --> 00:03:07.439 Mining is the countryís most important industry. Many of Fallyís 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:10.079 neighbors have made a fortune selling raw materials to a resource- 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:11.080 hungry world. 00:03:18.919 --> 00:03:23.799 Fally likes to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the city center. 00:03:25.719 --> 00:03:30.039 The Congo River is one of the longest in the world. For the local 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:34.759 fishermen, itís also vital to their livelihood. They recognize the 00:03:34.759 --> 00:03:36.039 singer immediately. 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:51.360 They say theyíre my brothers. Iíll give them something. Fifty bucks. 00:03:52.439 --> 00:03:56.520 Fally gets one of the marina workers to hand out a few notes. 00:03:58.479 --> 00:04:02.519 This is a lot! We called out to him, and he gave us fifty bucks to share 00:04:02.520 --> 00:04:03.760 amongst ourselves. 00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:10.280 Each fisherman just got the equivalent of about seven euros, 00:04:10.280 --> 00:04:12.879 the amount theyíd earn in a whole week. 00:04:15.479 --> 00:04:19.519 These people have different problems than we do. They even 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:24.519 work on Sundays. I often give them a little something, even if itís 00:04:24.519 --> 00:04:30.639 just so they can take home a treat for their children. Iím happy to do it. 00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:38.800 Fally Ipupa is one of about 600 millionaires in the Democratic 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:40.000 Republic of Congo. 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:50.520 The DRC is the largest country in Central Africa, about six times the 00:04:50.519 --> 00:04:56.519 size of Germany. Itís home to nearly 100 million people. Its 00:04:56.519 --> 00:05:01.799 history is one of conflict and exploitation. The ongoing violence 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:05.920 has resulted in six million deaths in the past couple decades. 00:05:07.959 --> 00:05:14.279 In 1965, Mobutu Sese Seko came to power. Nicknamed the ìLeopard of 00:05:14.279 --> 00:05:19.039 Zaire,î he ruled for nearly 32 years, embezzling the equivalent of more 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:21.760 than four billion euros during his reign. 00:05:21.839 --> 00:05:28.359 In 1996 civil war broke out. Militias, supported by neighboring countries, 00:05:28.360 --> 00:05:32.160 enlisted thousands of child soldiers as they attempted to seize the 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:36.200 countryís wealth. Mobutu died a year later in exile. 00:05:37.160 --> 00:05:43.960 2001 saw Joseph Kabila step into the political spotlight. During his 18 00:05:43.959 --> 00:05:47.479 years in power, he amassed an estimated fortune of more than 13 00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:53.240 billion euros. Because of its instability, the DRC is today 00:05:53.240 --> 00:05:55.079 regarded as a failed state. 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:02.599 Weíre traveling across the Democratic Republic of Congo to 00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:06.760 understand why some are getting richer and richer, while others are 00:06:06.759 --> 00:06:08.199 struggling to survive. 00:06:17.160 --> 00:06:21.240 In Kinshasa, the roads are unpaved and difficult to navigate. 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:34.399 Amid this chaos, a young woman named Moukembi is trying to build 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:35.399 a future. 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:47.560 Tell me what to do! The officers are supposed to direct traffic but 00:06:47.560 --> 00:06:52.160 one of them says go to the left; the other one says go to the right. 00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:54.000 What am I supposed to do? 00:06:57.199 --> 00:07:02.879 Moukembi is in the middle of a test. In the back seat, Arnaud is 00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:06.159 evaluating how well she navigates the traffic. 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:08.560 Sheís clearly feeling the pressure. 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:14.360 Youíll have to turn soon. You can tell you donít know your way 00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:16.879 around here. Follow this car. 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:24.319 Moukembi has applied to be a driver at a taxi start-up. The 00:07:24.680 --> 00:07:28.319 company was founded by a Congolese businesswoman who 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:30.719 wants to lift women out of poverty. 00:07:31.160 --> 00:07:33.960 The pink cars are the serviceís trademark. 00:07:34.920 --> 00:07:39.319 Previously, Moukembi worked as a nurse. If she passes the test, sheíll 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:43.399 triple her salary, earning around 250 euros per month. 00:07:45.120 --> 00:07:50.480 I canít wait to start the job. Letís hope I pass the test. 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:56.519 Okay, back to the office. 00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:03.079 Moukembi plays the part of a professional chauffeur until the 00:08:03.079 --> 00:08:05.800 very end, but it will be a few days before 00:08:05.800 --> 00:08:08.360 she finds out if sheís landed the job. 00:08:10.920 --> 00:08:14.600 The cab companyís customers are middle and upper class. 00:08:20.279 --> 00:08:24.479 To make the time spent in Kinshasaís traffic jams more 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:28.800 enjoyable, passengers are offered drinks, snacks, and even WiFi. 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:33.639 Weíre the first to offer this. 00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:39.120 Patricia Nzolantima wants to give women better employment 00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:43.840 opportunities. After completing her studies, she returned to Congo and 00:08:43.840 --> 00:08:48.360 started this cab service with the help of investors. Today, she pays it 00:08:48.360 --> 00:08:51.560 forward and supports other female entrepreneurs. 00:08:53.039 --> 00:08:57.319 We want to have more millionaires. Congo has more than 00:08:57.320 --> 00:09:02.080 80 million residents, and weíre rich in natural resources. Itís time 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:05.400 for Congolese women to get a piece of that wealth. 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:09.560 Despite the instability in the country? 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:11.399 Give me two of those. 00:09:12.960 --> 00:09:15.960 ?Patricia believes the economy will take off. 00:09:18.679 --> 00:09:23.839 You canít reduce Congo to rape and wars. There are young people, 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:29.840 especially young women, who are trying to make real change. So itís 00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:34.120 wrong to reduce the country to just the things that donít work. 00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:37.720 This new generation will move the country forward. 00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:44.720 Like Patricia and her friends, more and more Congolese people are 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:49.720 returning from abroad to work and invest in their homeland. These so- 00:09:49.720 --> 00:09:52.240 called ìrepatsî live in secure areas 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:54.879 that offer a Western standard of living. 00:10:09.240 --> 00:10:13.440 Back at La CitÈ du Fleuve, the high-end residential complex sitting 00:10:13.440 --> 00:10:17.560 on a couple hundred hectares, two new residents are moving in. 00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:23.280 Olivier and Naomie have just relocated from Johannesburg, 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:24.279 South Africa. 00:10:29.159 --> 00:10:35.360 Most important for us was the washing machine. And the bed. 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:44.200 The couple works in finance. New job prospects convinced them to 00:10:44.200 --> 00:10:46.120 return to their home country. 00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:54.480 This will be the living room. The carpet can go here. There ? the 00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:55.879 table, the TV. 00:10:57.240 --> 00:10:58.919 This will be the bedroom. 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:06.960 The apartment also offers a great view of the Congo River. Olivier and 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:10.480 Naomie are newlyweds and want to start a family here. 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:15.759 The couple earns about 3,500 euros per month. Thatís more than 100 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:21.279 times the average salary. A third of it will go toward rent ? the steep 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:22.480 price of security. 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:27.080 You know, I want a place where my kids can play in the street and 00:11:27.080 --> 00:11:29.840 they donít have to worry about 100 other people on the street, 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:33.160 and they donít have to worry about air pollution, noise pollution. 00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:36.240 They can do their homework in peace. Itís also very much about 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:41.240 the environment, but also yes, it is a whole lot safer than the inner city. 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:48.480 A brand-new apartment, brand new furnishings. The next thing we 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:50.200 need is a brand-new baby! 00:11:56.080 --> 00:11:58.600 The couple has found their safe haven. 00:11:59.159 --> 00:12:01.719 Beginning of a new life for us. -Yes. 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:07.919 Thereís growing demand to live in this new residential complex. 00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:11.679 Eventually, la CitÈ du Fleuve will have more than two thousand 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:14.959 homes? including singer Fally Ipupaís. 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:23.720 We meet him at an estate he rented to film his new music video. 00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:38.600 The dancers are dressed as Congolese warriors. 00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:50.080 The shoot is going well, until suddenly the music stops. Thereís 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:52.200 been a power outage in the area. 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:57.799 Thereís no electricity. Weíre trying to work it out. 00:12:59.960 --> 00:13:01.920 Fally and his team are stuck. 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:11.120 Finally, a technician tracks down an emergency generator? 00:13:14.600 --> 00:13:16.560 ?but that quickly breaks too. 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:24.959 Fally is frustrated, even though heís used to these sorts of challenges. 00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:32.720 You see this tattoo? It means Iím Congolese. Iím not going to leave 00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:35.879 my country just because of a few power outages. 00:13:38.840 --> 00:13:41.759 Eventually, Fally Ipupaís assistant Manon 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:44.080 tries using the carís sound system. 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:50.600 We make do with what we have. Iíll connect my phone to the car for now. 00:13:53.480 --> 00:13:56.399 It works, and the video shoot can continue. 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:07.600 In his twenty-year music career thus far, Fally has joined the club of 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:11.600 multi-millionaires. And the number of members is increasing. 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:20.439 The country is rich in minerals, including coltan, from which 00:14:20.440 --> 00:14:23.440 tantalum is extracted. The metal is used 00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:25.840 in the manufacture of mobile phones. 00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:38.039 The mines are in the Great Lakes region, in the eastern part of the 00:14:38.039 --> 00:14:40.319 country, near the Rwandan border. 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:44.799 Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, has been shaken by 00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:48.799 bloody conflicts for more than two decades. Armed groups fight each 00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:51.679 other for control of the mineral resources. 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:56.960 The UN has stationed 16,000 peacekeepers here, to shore up a 00:14:56.960 --> 00:14:57.960 fragile peace. 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:04.000 The residents in this region are poor and traumatized by violence. 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:09.679 Those who have made their fortune live along the shore of Lake 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:14.000 Kivu. Including one of the regionís most influential businessmen. 00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:23.120 His villa is guarded around the clock by police. Itís like a fortress. 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:26.639 Robert Seninga is a multi-millionaire. 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:29.519 Hi, how are you? 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:38.799 His wealth comes from coltan mining. He was once a rebel leader. 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:44.679 In 2006, he was elected to parliament in the Masisi district. 00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:52.639 Even when youíre a politician, you can still do business. 00:15:57.879 --> 00:16:05.000 Robert Seninga freely admits that political clout has helped him. He 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:08.759 runs the mining cooperative Cooperamma, which extracts 00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:12.919 coltan. His bodyguards never leave his side. 00:16:21.559 --> 00:16:23.079 I ask him where we are. 00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:31.639 This is Cooperammaís headquarters. The heart of the mineral trade. 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:39.559 The simple building belies the millions that Cooperamma turns 00:16:39.559 --> 00:16:40.559 over each year. 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:48.519 Robert Seninga looks at the production figures of the last few days. 00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:53.799 On the 6th, it was four tons and 668 kilos. 00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:57.039 The numbers are looking pretty good. 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:00.680 Itís 40 tons in total. 00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:03.759 I ask how much thatís worth. 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:11.600 A kilo is about 42 to 45 dollars. You can do the math. 00:17:16.920 --> 00:17:20.800 In the last few days, the mines have brought in close to two million 00:17:20.799 --> 00:17:26.799 euros. With three thousand mine workers, Cooperamma is the 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:28.599 regionís biggest employer. 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:31.640 I ask if any children work in his mines. 00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:37.879 No, thatís illegal. There are officers who make sure they donít. 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:41.160 Children should be in school, not the mines. 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:48.559 Helmets, boots and masks are mandatory in the mines to ensure 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:54.079 the workersí safety. According to Seninga, the mines are seen as a 00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:55.480 model for the region. 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:05.120 Theyíre situated about 60 kilometers from Goma, in one of 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:07.799 the most beautiful landscapes in Africa. 00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:24.519 But itís also among the most dangerous regions. Conflict has 00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:27.000 raged on here for more than 20 years. 00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:38.039 In 1994, one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century took place in 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:42.279 neighboring Rwanda: a genocide that killed almost one million 00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:46.799 people. Hundreds of thousands of people fled to the Democratic 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:50.399 Republic of Congo, including many of the perpetrators. 00:18:57.960 --> 00:19:02.160 Since then, survivors and perpetrators have lived side by side 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:06.920 in this volatile region. Meanwhile, armed rebel groups clash over 00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:08.720 Congoís valuable resources. 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:20.039 We head to the mines with Landry, Robert Seningaís chief engineer. 00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:28.320 Seninga has saved the Masisi community. Thanks to him, life can 00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:29.399 go on as normal. 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:38.199 But little seems to have changed in the region in recent years. The 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:43.039 roads are disastrous. Each day, people risk their lives getting to work. 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:56.000 Several times on our journey, our vehicle 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:58.799 nearly veers off the road into the ravine. 00:20:06.920 --> 00:20:11.880 That was close. A bit further and weíd have ended up in the river. 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:26.000 Nearly there. 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:35.000 After five hours on the road, we reach Rubaya, home to the biggest 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:39.240 coltan mine in the country. About 100,000 people live here. 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:45.600 Among them are Gilles, his wife and their three children. 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:50.759 The family lives in this 15 square-meter home. Everything has its 00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:51.879 designated spot. 00:20:54.720 --> 00:21:00.759 The house is very small. We hang the shoes on the wall. The 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:02.640 childrenís things are here. 00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:08.519 The adjacent room has the kitchen and the familyís bed. 00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:17.799 The bed is very narrow. We sleep there and my wife cooks here. 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:24.480 The couple moved here 5 years ago, hoping to get wealthy from the mines. 00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:31.000 I hope God will help me, so one day I can buy a car like this one. 00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:36.879 For now, Gilles earns the equivalent of 5 euros per day. 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:45.600 His work is many kilometers away from the center of Rubaya. It takes 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:48.000 him an hour and a half to get there. 00:21:53.160 --> 00:22:01.800 There are hundreds of coltan mines in the area. The one Gilles works in 00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:02.919 is called Bamfou. 00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:17.880 The ore is extracted from the sludge by hand. 00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:25.519 Itís easier by hand. That way we can separate the coltan from the sand. 00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:31.759 Once processed, itís an important part of manufacturing micro- 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:33.279 electronic components. 00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:37.759 This is coltan. Itís mainly used for mobile phones. 00:22:40.359 --> 00:22:45.759 Gilles has to climb into the mine to dig. The way down is slippery. 00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:54.559 Wait. Stop? If you know how to do it, itís pretty easy. 00:22:57.480 --> 00:23:01.079 Thereís nothing to hold onto for the 15-meter descent. 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:10.279 At the bottom, itís difficult to breathe. 00:23:13.160 --> 00:23:16.920 The shafts and tunnels are not adequately supported. Theyíre at 00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:18.240 risk of collapsing. 00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:24.559 Gilles gets to work with a pickaxe. 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:32.039 Thereís a lot of sand here. Itís endless. 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:43.720 Extraction is the priority, not safety. 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:53.240 Serious accidents often occur in these mines. 00:23:54.920 --> 00:23:56.519 I ask if itís dangerous. 00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:58.640 Sometimes rocks fall. 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:04.359 Landry sees no problems with the safety standards. 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:10.240 Itís normal for there to be deaths in mines, because of landslides for 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:16.240 example. Not just in Rubaya but everywhere. If this shaft collapsed 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:18.440 now, weíd probably all suffocate. 00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:27.600 There are no official figures, but fatal accidents while coltan mining 00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:33.079 are commonplace, not the exception. We notice that some of 00:24:33.079 --> 00:24:36.039 the miners look very young. Landry 00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:38.639 seems uncomfortable with our questions. 00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:41.119 How old are you? 00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:43.119 I'm twenty 00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:51.599 Heís twenty years old. He may seem younger because heís so 00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:54.519 small. But he manages well. 00:24:58.160 --> 00:25:02.680 Of Gillesí 30 or so colleagues, half look younger than 18 years old. 00:25:06.359 --> 00:25:10.679 In this region and others, we regularly encounter children who 00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:12.759 hide when they see our cameras. 00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:19.400 According to UNICEF, more than 40,000 children work in the DRCís mines. 00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:25.400 While this mineral makes some people rich, it robs others of their 00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:28.080 childhood and sometimes even their life. 00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:33.959 Everyone tries to profit from coltan mining, 00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:37.160 which is why the black market is flourishing. 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:42.440 A considerable portion of this valuable commodity is sold under 00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:46.440 the table to avoid paying taxes to the Congolese government. 00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:58.840 This illegal trade takes place with the help of Congolese soldiers, who 00:25:58.839 --> 00:26:00.759 let the convoys pass through. 00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:16.839 The soldier makes good money through the black-market trade. 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:48.960 The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the 20 most corrupt 00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:53.440 countries in the world. Illegal trade means the Congolese state misses 00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:56.840 out on several billion euros in revenue every year. 00:26:57.319 --> 00:27:01.519 Nevertheless, the mining sector drove Congoís economy to almost 00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:04.359 6-percent growth in 2018. 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:08.759 That economic success is especially showcased on the ìBoulevard of 00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:11.400 June 30th" in DRCís capital, Kinshasa. 00:27:13.559 --> 00:27:17.440 The street is named after the DRCís Independence Day. 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:22.680 Being an entrepreneur is something many young Congolese dream of? 00:27:22.680 --> 00:27:26.120 the job is demanding, but the financial independence more than 00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:27.199 makes up for it. 00:27:28.839 --> 00:27:31.639 One such entrepreneur is celebrating a lucrative new 00:27:31.640 --> 00:27:37.080 contract. Eric Monga not only runs a business, heís also the head of a 00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:38.359 trade association. 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:42.480 Hereís to the future of the business? 00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:45.279 Good luck with your project! 00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:52.799 They toast with expensive champagne, because Eric has good 00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:58.279 news. He just returned from Florida in the United States, where he met 00:27:58.279 --> 00:28:03.279 with investors. He has convinced them to fund his ambitious project, 00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:06.200 which will cost more than 400-million euros. 00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:15.440 A contract was signed?but thatís all I can tell you. Weíre drinking to 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:18.360 celebrate how well our friend negotiated it. 00:28:20.839 --> 00:28:25.679 Eric wants to construct a hydroelectric power plant. Fewer 00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:30.920 than 1 in 5 people in Congo have access to electricity. He wants to 00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:31.920 change that. 00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:38.920 In every problem, thereís also a business opportunity. People need 00:28:38.920 --> 00:28:44.000 food, they need clothes. And now we want to ensure they have electricity. 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:51.519 He plans to improve living conditions for at least some of the 00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:54.639 nearly 100-million people in the DRC. 00:29:02.839 --> 00:29:07.240 Eric Monga is from Lubumbashi, in the southern part of the country. 00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:10.480 He made his fortune with a company specializing in the 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:13.160 chemical analysis of minerals. 00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:18.039 Heís about to show us the location of his future dam. 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:22.079 The area is remote and sparsely populated. 00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:28.000 The project will mean bringing workers in from far away. But the 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:29.519 challenge is worth it. 00:29:32.440 --> 00:29:36.320 The power plant will bring in almost 1 million dollars per month. 00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:37.319 A lot of money. 00:29:39.359 --> 00:29:41.759 Oops. Welcome to the bush! 00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:49.600 Eric has set up a small camp in the middle of the wilderness. It hosts a 00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:50.799 team of engineers. 00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:56.279 Hello, howís it going? 00:29:57.839 --> 00:30:01.639 About a dozen employees have been living here for a year. 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:07.400 They have a water tank, a generator, and some small sheds. 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:16.080 Right now weíre standing at about 735 meters. The top of the dam 00:30:16.079 --> 00:30:21.079 will be at 830 meters. The water will go up to that level there, 00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:24.279 where the sun is. This will be an enormous lake. 00:30:29.240 --> 00:30:34.440 At a height of 90 meters, the dam will be one of the largest in the DRC. 00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:40.839 It will have a capacity of 150 megawatts, providing half a million 00:30:40.839 --> 00:30:47.079 residents with power. And building it will create about 3,000 jobs. 00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:55.200 Weíre making something that will really benefit the region. Itís 00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:57.440 especially important for farmers. 00:30:57.440 --> 00:31:00.640 They need electricity to modernize agriculture. 00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:07.279 Several investors, especially Americans, have shown interest in 00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:11.839 the project. Eric hopes to wrap up construction within three years. 00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:20.160 He believes people can be successful when they have the 00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:22.360 courage to leap into the unknown. 00:31:31.799 --> 00:31:37.480 Many people have found success here. Why not me? If you work 00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:41.200 hard, you can make a lot of money here in a short time. 00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:49.480 Eric is not alone in this belief. More and more Congolese are becoming 00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:52.599 entrepreneurs, throwing themselves into the business world 00:31:52.599 --> 00:31:54.719 in the hope of escaping poverty. 00:31:57.559 --> 00:31:59.519 Back to Kinshasa. 00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:09.120 In the early morning, bread-sellers come from all parts of the city to 00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:11.119 stock up from this wholesaler. 00:32:13.359 --> 00:32:15.599 Many women make a living this way. 00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:22.960 Marie comes here every day at 6 a.m. 00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:27.400 Two boxes. 00:32:30.119 --> 00:32:34.919 Marie was widowed six months ago. Now she must provide for her 00:32:34.920 --> 00:32:35.920 family alone. 00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:41.600 Hold this for me, please. 00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:46.679 No, itís not too heavy. Iím used to it, itís part of the job. 00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:58.200 Marie is balancing more than fifteen kilos. Every day she sets up 00:32:58.200 --> 00:33:00.440 her stand on a busy street corner. 00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:06.799 How much is the cake? 00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:07.799 300 francs. 00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:09.720 I'll take one. 00:33:12.400 --> 00:33:15.160 Iíll give you two. Youíve gotten so thin. 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:17.000 Oh, thanks! 00:33:18.599 --> 00:33:24.439 I often come here and buy bread from Marie. I like her stand, itís clean. 00:33:27.480 --> 00:33:31.680 Marie gets lots of customers, with her friendly disposition. 00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:34.440 Itís going well today! 00:33:37.079 --> 00:33:42.960 She typically earns about 60 euros a day selling bread. She dreams of 00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:46.279 opening more stalls, and even getting rich. 00:33:52.400 --> 00:33:54.600 If you know how to manage a business, you can become a 00:33:54.599 --> 00:33:59.000 millionaire. You just have to be smart, plan properly and run your 00:33:59.000 --> 00:34:00.000 business well. 00:34:02.599 --> 00:34:07.000 She still has a long way to go. Her net profit at the end of the day is 00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:08.559 only 18 euros. 00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:19.200 Marie goes to church three times per week, to pray and thank God. 00:34:24.480 --> 00:34:28.039 God is very important to me. I owe everything to him. 00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:35.680 Evangelical churches thrive in Congo. And some make their 00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:38.919 money from capitalizing on other peopleís faith. 00:34:49.679 --> 00:34:54.719 On this Sunday morning in Kinshasa, the cityís usually bustling streets 00:34:54.719 --> 00:35:01.199 are nearly deserted. Since dawn, tens of thousands of people have 00:35:01.199 --> 00:35:04.599 been streaming into the countryís national stadium. 00:35:14.280 --> 00:35:19.880 Theyíre not here for a soccer match or a concert. The 80,000 attendees 00:35:19.880 --> 00:35:23.480 have come to see a man they believe performs miracles. 00:35:28.119 --> 00:35:31.079 We believe in the prophet Khondeís miracles. 00:35:32.719 --> 00:35:36.799 I was dying, but then I drank a glass of his miracle juice and my 00:35:36.800 --> 00:35:41.960 pain disappeared immediately. Iím living proof. Heís a prophet. 00:35:53.079 --> 00:35:57.239 There are camera crews, photographers, cheerleaders, and 00:35:57.239 --> 00:36:02.719 lots of police. Itís one of the biggest events of the year. Itís even 00:36:02.719 --> 00:36:05.079 being broadcast live on television. 00:36:07.199 --> 00:36:11.719 Dominique Khonde is the man everyone is waiting for. The self- 00:36:11.719 --> 00:36:16.480 proclaimed prophet has several million followers. When he enters 00:36:16.480 --> 00:36:18.480 the stadium, the crowd erupts. 00:36:26.519 --> 00:36:31.320 Before he goes on stage, he greets former Prime Minister Bruno Tshibala. 00:36:33.119 --> 00:36:36.159 The wife of former President Joseph Kabila is also in the 00:36:36.159 --> 00:36:41.319 audience. After a few prayers and songs, he begins to preach. 00:36:41.920 --> 00:36:46.119 They donít want you to succeed or live in abundance, prosperity and 00:36:46.119 --> 00:36:55.400 wealth. But even in poverty, even when you are hungry or ill?youíll 00:36:55.400 --> 00:37:04.280 have everything as long as you realize the truth. Amen. Fear not. Amen. 00:37:09.199 --> 00:37:13.039 Dominique Khondeís business model involves a supposed miracle 00:37:13.039 --> 00:37:17.519 cure that he peddles across the country. But not here, out in the 00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:22.039 open. Instead, he sells it discretely in small rural communities. The 00:37:22.039 --> 00:37:25.639 business has already earned him several million euros. 00:37:27.079 --> 00:37:31.719 A few days later, we accompany Khonde to Matete, a Kinshasa 00:37:31.719 --> 00:37:36.480 suburb. Outside the church, more than a 00:37:36.480 --> 00:37:38.960 hundred of his followers are waiting. 00:37:41.519 --> 00:37:44.320 The prophet told me to stop spending money on doctors. He 00:37:44.320 --> 00:37:46.720 told me to drink the juice and pray. 00:37:48.559 --> 00:37:52.639 At 11 oíclock, Dominique Khonde arrives in his luxury car. 00:37:59.239 --> 00:38:03.719 His followers have all come for some of his supposed miracle cure. 00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:06.599 But first the prophet wants a donation. 00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:16.320 Khonde receives the sick as though they were on a conveyer belt. 00:38:19.719 --> 00:38:22.839 This woman had a brain hemorrhage one year ago. 00:38:25.360 --> 00:38:29.480 I came to the prophet because I am very ill. When I heard about 00:38:29.480 --> 00:38:32.240 the prophetís miracle cure, I asked to be brought to him. 00:38:32.239 --> 00:38:33.639 I canít walk anymore. 00:38:38.440 --> 00:38:42.880 She should be massaged with the juice. I think that will help her. 00:38:46.559 --> 00:38:48.840 I have faith that he will heal me. 00:38:50.280 --> 00:38:52.920 Consultations usually only last seconds. 00:38:54.159 --> 00:38:55.960 You need to take the juice. 00:38:57.599 --> 00:39:00.000 The prescription is always the same. 00:39:00.360 --> 00:39:02.000 Are you taking the juice? 00:39:02.119 --> 00:39:04.599 Yes. -Good, keep taking it. 00:39:07.480 --> 00:39:11.599 After speaking to the prophet, the sick people are sent next door, to 00:39:11.599 --> 00:39:12.599 the pharmacy. 00:39:14.119 --> 00:39:23.400 This is where they get the famous juice. No one here doubts its 00:39:23.400 --> 00:39:24.400 healing powers. 00:39:25.400 --> 00:39:29.039 It cures AIDS, stomach pain, liver cancer, 00:39:29.039 --> 00:39:31.800 cirrhosis, all kinds of diseases... 00:39:35.679 --> 00:39:44.799 I had AIDS and lost a lot of weight. Now I weigh 52 kilos, thanks to the 00:39:44.800 --> 00:39:49.680 juice from the prophet Dominique Khonde. He healed me. 00:39:53.320 --> 00:39:59.200 Thereís no science behind the juice, but many people blindly trust it. A 00:39:59.199 --> 00:40:04.439 half-liter costs the equivalent of 14 euros, about a third of the average 00:40:04.440 --> 00:40:05.440 monthly salary. 00:40:09.119 --> 00:40:13.319 Three of us pooled our money and weíre going to share a bottle. 00:40:18.000 --> 00:40:21.119 Thereís a strong smell of gasoline in the room. 00:40:22.760 --> 00:40:26.960 Thereís lemon juice in it, gasoline and some other ingredients. 00:40:34.440 --> 00:40:40.240 Right now the juice is bottled on-site, but demand is so high that 00:40:40.239 --> 00:40:43.479 soon Khonde will begin producing it in a factory. 00:40:48.679 --> 00:40:50.399 Hereís the new packaging. 00:40:51.960 --> 00:40:56.320 According to the packaging, the juice cures epilepsy, cancer and 00:40:56.320 --> 00:40:57.320 even AIDS. 00:40:57.880 --> 00:41:01.599 The active ingredient? Divine enlightenment. 00:41:02.280 --> 00:41:07.840 This product treats illnesses with different causes, such as epilepsy, 00:41:07.840 --> 00:41:10.800 cancer and so on. 00:41:15.159 --> 00:41:18.279 It says it cures AIDS, but he didnít read that. 00:41:19.239 --> 00:41:21.839 No, we havenít tried it with AIDS much. 00:41:24.639 --> 00:41:28.199 More than half a million Congolese are HIV-positive. 00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:34.280 Another supposed benefit of the miracle cure: it can bring children 00:41:34.280 --> 00:41:35.600 back from the dead. 00:41:36.320 --> 00:41:40.400 Some people have applied the juice to their still-born babies, and 00:41:40.400 --> 00:41:42.000 theyíve woken up again. 00:41:44.519 --> 00:41:50.079 A juice that can cure AIDS and bring the dead back to life. Congolese 00:41:50.079 --> 00:41:53.319 authorities donít stop him from selling tens of thousands of bottles 00:41:53.320 --> 00:41:56.120 of his gasoline-lemon mixture every year. 00:41:56.400 --> 00:42:00.039 While his assistants count the day's earnings, most Congolese people 00:42:00.039 --> 00:42:05.559 continue their daily struggle against poverty. The road to becoming a 00:42:05.559 --> 00:42:11.679 millionaire legitimately is long and hard. Thatís why some take shortcuts.