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Congolese Reflect on the Stark Contrast Between the Violence in Washington and Wang Yi’s Visit to Kinshasa

by Eric Olander

Wednesday was a day of sharp contrasts for Congolese looking at the United States and China from afar. While pro-Trump extremists stormed the U.S. Capitol, China’s Foreign Minister was in Kinshasa signing deals and relieving old debts.

The stark contrast in perceptions about the two global powers was a popular topic of discussion yesterday on Congolese Twitter. Take this exchange as an example:

@jkamitatu_: Solidarity with the United States, disorder is never desirable & especially in the oldest democracy in the world. The end of a model.

@cleoslyanzala: After the peak comes the decline, it is inevitable; the western model is over, long live the oriental model worn by China. Today in DRC, the Chinese Foreign Minister taught the Americans a lesson in pragmatism.

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