Noël K. Tshiani Muadiamvita

Noël Kabamba Tshiani Muadiamvita
Born	(1957-12-25) December 25, 1957 Ngandajika, Belgian Congo (present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Occupation(s)	Economist, politician
Known for	Presidential candidate in 2018 and 2023; advocate of economic reforms and Marshall Plan for the Congo

Noël Kabamba Tshiani Muadiamvita (born 25 December 1957) is an economist and political figure from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He contested the presidential elections in both 2018 and 2023. In 2021 and again in 2023, Tshiani introduced legislative proposals aiming to limit government roles exclusively to individuals born to Congolese parentage.

Early life

Tshiani entered the world on 25 December 1957 in Ngandajika, then part of Belgian Congo (present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo). He holds a PhD in economics from Paris Dauphine University.

Economic career

Following his doctoral studies, Tshiani gained professional experience in France with Citibank and later in the United States at Chase Manhattan Bank and Republic National Bank. In 1992, he joined the World Bank as a financial specialist focusing on industry and energy sectors within the Sahel region. By August 2004, he was appointed the World Bank’s resident representative in Chad.

Throughout his career, Tshiani has contributed to economic restructuring efforts across West Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia. Notably, his involvement in the economic development of the Cape Verde Islands helped elevate the GDP per capita from $170 to $7,500 by 2016.

He spearheaded a World Bank task force responsible for formulating economic reforms for institutions such as the West African Development Bank (BOAD), the Central Bank for West African States (BCEAO), and the eight member states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), thereby enhancing regional financial and economic cohesion.

Prior to this, Tshiani spent ten years at JPMorgan Chase in New York as an International Lending Officer. He also held senior credit management positions at Republic National Bank and Citibank. His credentials include completion of Citibank’s Executive Management Training Program and an internship at Banque Nationale de Paris.

While seconded from the World Bank, Tshiani co-led the 1997 Monetary Reform Commission that introduced the Congolese Franc, replacing Zaire's previously devalued currency. He advocated for increased independence of monetary authorities by substituting politically appointed central bank board members with impartial experts. A strong proponent of autonomous central banking systems, Tshiani stresses that a sound financial infrastructure is vital for effective resource distribution and sustainable economic growth. He maintains close observation of political and economic developments within the DRC.

Political career

Competing as an independent contender in the 2018 presidential race, Tshiani garnered 23,548 votes (0.13%), ranking 14th overall. The election was won by Félix Tshisekedi.

In July 2021, he submitted a legislative proposal to the National Assembly aimed at limiting eligibility for 250 government roles—including president, prime minister, and parliamentary leadership positions—to individuals born exclusively to Congolese parents. Tshiani framed this initiative as a measure to safeguard national sovereignty. Although initially disregarded, the bill resurfaced in April 2023 but faced resistance from entities such as the Catholic Church, opposition factions, and demonstrators who denounced it as "dangerous" and "discriminatory." Opponents contended that it was designed to exclude politicians like Moïse Katumbi, whose father was Greek, from participating in the 2023 presidential contest.

Tshiani also entered the presidential race in 2023 but eventually withdrew his candidacy to support Tshisekedi. He placed 17th with a total of 9,276 votes, while Tshisekedi secured a second term lasting five years.

Political stance

Tshiani is not aligned with any political party. As a technocrat and someone outside the traditional political sphere, he contends that the leaders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo have failed their people for many years. Despite its vast natural wealth, the DRC was ranked as the poorest nation worldwide by GDP per capita in 2016, according to indexmundi, and it consistently scores low on the UNDP Human Development Index. Tshiani argues that achieving shared prosperity hinges on effective governance, ethical leadership, adherence to the rule of law, respect for human rights, equality, and equal access to opportunities.

Back in 2003, Tshiani introduced the idea of a Marshall Plan specifically for the DRC to tackle systemic challenges and widespread poverty. He authored two pieces in Jeune Afrique advocating for bold reforms following unsuccessful past initiatives. Today, he envisions a comprehensive 15-year Marshall Plan requiring an investment of US$800 billion aimed at economic transformation and broad-based opportunity creation. This strategy embodies his distinctive approach to advancing development in the DRC.

Marshall Plan for the Congo

On 22 January 2016, Tshiani unveiled his Marshall Plan for the Congo through an article published in Time Magazine, further elaborated in his book *La Force du Changement* (The Force of Change). This ambitious 15-year blueprint focuses on fifteen coordinated programs designed to stimulate growth led by the private sector while harnessing expertise from international partners and the Congolese diaspora.

Among the seven principal initiatives are:

• Strengthening peace, security, democracy, and rule of law by reforming military and police forces and establishing transparent institutions;
• Enhancing human capital through improvements in education, healthcare, and nutrition, with a strong focus on combating gender-based discrimination and violence;
• Increasing domestic revenue mobilization by improving tax collection systems and intensifying anti-corruption measures;
• Encouraging a responsible domestic private sector supported by robust public administration and legal frameworks;
• Executing large-scale infrastructure projects aimed at job creation and boosting trade and economic expansion;
• Promoting rapid local industrialization by processing minerals domestically, modernizing agriculture and fisheries, fostering sustainable forestry practices, and developing service industries such as tourism;
• Exploiting synergies within domestic and regional markets across a 26-nation regional integration area stretching from South Africa to Egypt, encompassing 625 million people with a combined GDP estimated at US$1.3 trillion.

Tshiani estimates that realizing this plan will require close to $800 billion over 15 years sourced from domestic revenues, bilateral and multilateral assistance, as well as foreign direct investment. He stresses that primary funding should come from internally generated resources achieved through fighting corruption, judicial reforms, and creating an investor-friendly environment.

If properly executed, Tshiani forecasts that this initiative could elevate one of the world’s poorest economies into a leading engine of growth in Africa, raising GDP per capita from $394 to $15,000 within 15 years. His vision reinforces the belief that "the impossible isn't Congolese" when citizens unite in purpose.

Publications

Tshiani has produced one thesis and authored five books centered on economics and monetary policy:

1. Central Bank Independence, Accountability, and Impact on Monetary Policy: Application to the Case of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2000, Paris Dauphine University)
2. Vision for a Strong Currency: Advocacy for a New Monetary Policy in the Congo (2008, Editions L'Harmattan)
3. Building Credible Central Banks: Policy Lessons For Emerging Economies (2008, Springer Science+Business Media)
4. The Battle for a Credible National Currency (2012, Larcier)
5. Desperate Times, Bold Measures: A Marshall Plan for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2016, Les Éditions du Panthéon)
6. The Force of Change: Building a More Beautiful Country Than Before (2016, Les Éditions du Panthéon)

Electoral history

Year	Position	Election type	Candidate's Party		Principal Rival	Rival's Party		Votes Received by Tshiani				Outcome	Vote Swing
								Total	Percentage	Ranking	Percentage Change
2018	President of the DRC	General election		Independent	Félix Tshisekedi		UDSP	23,548	0.13%	14th place	N/A	Template:No2		Gain
2023	President of the DRC	General election		Independent	Félix Tshisekedi		UDSP	9,276	0.05%	17th place	–0.08%	Template:No2		Hold

External links

• Dr. Noël Tshiani Presents the Marshall Plan at Howard University by Dr Noël Tshiani – Force Du Changement (2017) on YouTube
• Discussion on Reforming the Democratic Republic of the Congo with Dr. Noël K. Tshiani Muadiamvita by Congo Live (2016) on SoundCloud