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Author Erik Bruyland on Why No One Should Be Surprised That the Sicomines Deal Is Now a Huge Mess

by Eric Olander

It was once described as the “Deal of the Century” now, 13 years later, the Sino-Congolese joint venture known as Sicomines is the focal point of a bitter dispute over whether this $6 billion copper and cobalt venture was established on wholly unfair terms. 

Erik Bruyland, for his part, is not surprised at all. The Belgian author of the “Cobalt Blues” spoke with the French newspaper Le Monde about the brewing controversy. The following is a direct translation of the exchange that has been lightly edited for clarity:

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