Angola is no longer mediating the talks to resolve the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Luanda announced its withdrawal on March 24, 2025, explaining that President João Lourenço, who also chairs the African Union (AU), had to "more comprehensively focus on the general priorities established by the continental organization.”

Angola’s mediation efforts, initiated in 2022, had sought to broker peace between the DRC government and M23 rebels, who are widely accused of receiving support from Rwanda. In its recent statement, Luanda noted that its multiple attempts to bring conflicting parties to the table were unfruitful. "Angola has always believed that there should be, in parallel with this process, direct negotiations between the DRC government and the M23. In this regard, it worked towards this and was able to obtain the consent of both parties for the first round of these negotiations to take place in Luanda on March 18 of the current year, an action newly aborted in extremis by a set of factors, some of which were external and extraneous to the African processes already underway," the communiqué reads.

The presidency stated that consultations with the AU Commission would determine a new mediator to replace Angola. Meanwhile, Qatar has stepped up its involvement, hosting a surprise meeting between DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame last week. The two leaders issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to an immediate ceasefire, but this pledge has yet to translate into tangible results as violence continues to escalate.

Commenting on the stalled progress, Téte António, Angola’s foreign minister, told the local media he was disappointed while reiterating that African solutions must remain central to resolving African conflicts. “All actions linked to the efforts of the United Nations or other international organizations are welcome as long as they are duly concerted with African mediators,” the Angolan presidency added in the recent note. 

Online, many people disapproved of Qatar’s involvement in the matter, deeming that a non-African nation should not mediate the peace talks. 

Since January, M23 rebels have launched an aggressive offensive in eastern DRC, capturing strategic towns such as Goma and Bukavu and advancing into mineral-rich areas like Walikale. Their control over these regions has deepened the humanitarian crisis, with millions displaced and international efforts struggling to end the conflict.

On Monday, March 24, Kinshasa began consultations for a potential government of national unity, raising questions about whether M23 representatives will be included. 

This article was initially published in French by Moutiou Adjibi Nourou (Ecofin Agency)

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

DRC Gold Trading SA, the only company allowed to export artisanal gold in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), recently opened a new office in Maniema province. On the opening day, March 21, the company’s head office manager, Amisi Mudjanahery, reassured mining cooperatives, traders, and licensed buyers of the firm’s capacity to purchase all artisanal gold in the region. Mudjanahery emphasized that this capability is backed by a partnership with Rawbank, the DRC’s leading financial institution.

“The company is there to collect all gold from artisanal and small-scale mining. This gold must be traced. Together with Rawbank, DRC Gold Trading SA would like to reassure all its suppliers that it will buy all the gold supplied to it in cash,” he stated.

Mudjanahery did not elaborate on the specifics of the partnership with Rawbank or how the bank intends to help the state-owned company fulfill its mandate.

In 2024, DRC Gold Trading aimed to export 12 tonnes of gold but managed only 1.75 tonnes. The shortfall was attributed to multiple factors, including operational halts during part of the year and uncompetitive prices offered by the company compared to those on the black market. Additionally, banking regulations restricting daily cash transactions have further complicated its operations.

Despite these challenges, optimism remains high among local stakeholders. David Kikuni, provincial president of the Maniema Gold Traders’ Corporation, expressed confidence that the new buying office would curb the exodus of gold production from the region while strengthening traceability and sector governance.

Maniema’s artisanal gold production has historically been hard to track. According to partial data from the Cellule Technique de Coordination et de Planification Minière (CTCPM), artisanal output in the first quarter of 2024 was just 5.77 kilograms. By comparison, the province produced 9.87 kilograms in the first half of 2022, accounting for 10.18% of national production that semester. In its annual report covering 2024, the CTCPM does not mention Maniema.

This article was initially written in French by Ronsard Luabeya (intern)

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Since January 1, 2025, individuals or entities found guilty of obstructing transparency and traceability in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) mining sector now face a staggering $4.3 million fine. Outlined in Decision No. CAMI/DG/003/2024, the penalty was issued by the Directorate General of the Mining Cadastre (CAMI) on December 16, 2024. It is the most severe enforcement measure under the country’s amended Mining Code. Despite its significance, the decision has received little public attention.

The adjustment stems from Article 375 of the 2018 Mining Code. The code mandates annual revisions of fines in foreign currency. “To maintain their value, these adjustments require input from the Central Bank of Congo and approval by CAMI’s leadership”. Since the revised Mining Code came into effect in 2018, fines for violations have been increased at least four times. The latest hike is particularly striking, multiplying the previous threshold of $429,122 by ten. Earlier fines had already reached $1.23 million in 2021 and $1.07 million in 2022.

The new $4.3 million penalty is part of a broader effort to enforce stricter compliance in the mining sector, which accounts for over 95% of the DRC’s export revenues. While this fine targets violations related to transparency and traceability key provisions aimed at curbing smuggling and illicit trade penalties for at least a dozen other mining offenses have also been doubled, quadrupled, or increased tenfold since the start of 2025.

The measures coincide with heightened government efforts to combat resource plundering by M23 rebels, who recently invaded the DRC, with Rwanda’s help. The rebels currently occupy strategic areas, including Rubaya’s mineral-rich mines and cities like Goma and Bukavu.

Despite these challenges, there are signs of determination from the mining administration to strengthen oversight elsewhere in the country. The recent inauguration of a Mining Registry building in Katanga another key mining region signals an effort to bring regulatory authorities closer to industry players and ensure compliance with the law.

Updated list of fines for violations of mining regulations in the DRC

(Decision CAMI/DG/003/2024 - in force since January 1, 2025)

• Obstruction of transparency and traceability in the mining industry: USD 4,291,222.57 (previously USD 429,122.24)
• Fraud and looting of natural mineral resources: USD 2,145,611.26 (versus USD 1,072,805.65)
• Illicit activities:USD 1,072,805.65 (vs. USD 42,912.25)
• Illicit purchase and sale of mineral substances: USD 128,736.67 (versus USD 42,912.25)
• Theft and concealment of mineral substances: USD 85,824.43 (versus USD 21,456.11)
• Embezzlement of mineral substances: 85 824.43 USD (versus 21 456.11 USD)
• Illicit possession of mineral substances: USD 85,824.43 (compared with USD 8,582.43)
• Illicit transport of mineral substances: USD 85,824.43 (versus USD 8,582.43)
• Facilitation of detour of mineral substances: USD 42,912.25 (vs. USD 21,456.11)
• Violations of human rights: USD 42,912.25 (new offence)
• Violation of health and safety regulations: USD 42,912.25 (versus USD 21,456.11)
• Destruction, degradation or fraudulent/malicious damage: USD 42,912.25 (versus USD 21,456.11)
• Obstructing the activities of the Mining Administration: USD 42,912.25 (versus USD 8,582.43)
• Infringement of ministerial or provincial governor decrees: USD 42,912.25 (compared with USD 4,291.24)
• Insults or violence towards Mining Administration officials: 21,456.11 USD (compared with 4,291.24 USD)
• Refusal to communicate a change of address: 21,456.11 USD (new offence)
• Corruption of public officials: 4,291.24 USD (new offence)

This article was initially published in French by Georges Auréole Bamba

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

On March 24, 2025, leaders of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) held their second joint summit addressing the ongoing crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The meeting, which took place online, is a new milestone towards bringing peace to the region. The Kenyan and Zimbabwean Presidents, William Ruto and Emmerson Mnangagwa, co-chaired the roundtable. Ruto and Mnangagwa respectively chair the EAC and SADC.

At the summit's conclusion, five former heads of state were appointed as facilitators for the peace process: Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria), Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Kgalema Motlanthe (South Africa), Catherine Samba-Panza (Central African Republic), and Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia). They were picked based on gender, regional, and linguistic representation criteria, according to an official communiqué. This panel will take over dialogue efforts previously led by Angolan President João Lourenço, who stepped down to focus on continental priorities as Angola holds the African Union presidency.

Escalating Conflict

Eastern DRC has been facing a conflict with M3 rebels since January. The invaders, backed by Rwanda, have captured strategic cities like Goma and Bukavu. Despite multiple regional and international initiatives, the conflict continues. 

Last week, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame met in Qatar. According to a joint statement issued after the meeting, the two leaders “reaffirmed commitments to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire,” echoing resolutions from the first joint EAC-SADC summit held in February in Dar es Salaam.

The March 24 summit also adopted a roadmap outlining measures for sustainable peace and security in eastern DRC. While details remain undisclosed, participants urged swift implementation of these actions and directed the co-chairs to organize a briefing with the facilitators within a week, in collaboration with the African Union.

This article was initially published in French by Charlène N’dimon(Ecofin Agency)

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

The Transforme project, a World Bank-backed project that supports entrepreneurs in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), will help Salama K.N Group set up its SME center in Bunia, Ituri province. On March 24, 2025, Alexis Mangala, the national coordinator of the project’s coordination unit (UCP), and Célestin Maombi Bahati, Salama’s managing director, formalized this partnership through a signed agreement.

According to Salama K.N Group, its SME center will provide small and medium-sized enterprises with essential infrastructure and services for fostering their growth. The facility will include utilities like electricity and drinking water, workspaces, production units, parking areas, and shared equipment such as packaging facilities. It will also offer centralized support services, including access to financing through microfinance institutions or banks, accounting and tax management, marketing assistance, and human resources support. Additionally, a one-stop tax shop will be established to simplify administrative procedures for entrepreneurs.

Under the agreement, the Transforme project will fund key components of the center's development. This includes rehabilitating the site, installing basic infrastructure and equipment, conducting technical studies, and providing subsidies to support 40 SMEs setting up operations at the center. While the total cost of this support has not been disclosed, the investment underscores the World Bank’s commitment to fostering private sector growth in the DRC.

Salama K.N Group has already secured a three-hectare plot in Kisoke village within Irumu territory for the project. According to Célestin Maombi Bahati, the site is equipped with a modern hangar, two tin sheds, a 500 kVA transformer for power supply, and two water wells capable of producing 160 m³ per day. Of the 50 SMEs the center plans to accommodate, 11 have already signed contracts with Salama. Three are currently operational on-site: one produces medical serums at a capacity of over 8,000 bottles per day, another manufactures corn flour, and a third produces liquid soap.

Bunia falls within the operational scope of the Transforme project, which has maintained an office there since June 2023. The initiative is also supporting informal businesses through its Entrepreneurship Promotion Training Program (FOPE), aimed at enhancing entrepreneurial, financial, and managerial skills.

Timothée Manoke (intern)

Un deal à un milliard de dollars a propulsé Jean-Pierre Latere sur le devant de la scène. Durant la semaine du 17 au 23 mars 2025, le Belge d’origine congolaise a fait la une des journaux. Lundi, EsoBiotec, l’entreprise qu’il a fondée en 2020 à Mont-Saint-Guibert, en Belgique, a annoncé la signature d’un accord définitif en vue de son acquisition par AstraZeneca. Le groupe britannique figure parmi le top 10 des plus grandes entreprises pharmaceutiques mondiales, avec un chiffre d’affaires de 54,1 milliards de dollars en 2024.

L’accord prévoit un premier versement immédiat de 425 millions de dollars, suivi de 575 millions supplémentaires, conditionnés aux résultats futurs de la jeune pousse.

AstraZeneca accepte de miser autant sur EsoBiotec en raison du potentiel de sa technologie révolutionnaire : la thérapie cellulaire in vivo imaginée par Jean-Pierre Latere. Elle devrait permettre de traiter le cancer par une simple injection, rendant ainsi les traitements plus rapides, moins coûteux, et donc accessibles à un plus grand nombre de patients.

Après plus de quatre ans de recherche, un premier patient a été injecté début décembre 2024. Au terme de près de 28 jours de test, les résultats publiés en janvier ont été qualifiés d’« exceptionnels », attirant l’attention des géants de la pharmacie. Deux mois plus tard, le deal avec AstraZeneca était conclu, projetant son fondateur sous les feux des projecteurs.

L’enfant de Lubumbashi

Ce succès résonne aussi en République démocratique du Congo (RDC), non seulement pour l’espoir qu’il suscite dans le traitement du cancer, mais aussi parce que Jean-Pierre Latere est un fils du pays. Le chimiste est né à Lubumbashi et a grandi à Kinshasa, où il a étudié au Collège Boboto. Cet établissement confessionnel est réputé dans le pays pour la qualité de sa formation.

En 1994, à l’âge de 18 ans, Latere s’envole pour la Belgique. Il y poursuit ses études supérieures à l’Université de Liège, où il décroche un doctorat en chimie des polymères, avant d’effectuer un post-doctorat à l’Université du Michigan, aux États-Unis.

À l’issue de son parcours académique, Jean-Pierre Latere entame sa carrière chez Johnson & Johnson, l’un des leaders mondiaux de la pharmacie et des dispositifs médicaux. Il y travaille au sein de la filiale Janssen, aux États-Unis puis en Belgique, dans le développement pharmaceutique et les technologies médicales. Le Congolais d’origine occupera par la suite plusieurs postes de direction, notamment chez Celyad Oncology, qu’il rejoint en janvier 2017.

C’est chez Celyad Oncology que Jean-Pierre Latere travaille pour la première fois sur les thérapies cellulaires. Cette approche consiste à prélever le sang du patient, à isoler certains globules blancs, puis à les modifier génétiquement en laboratoire afin de les rendre capables de reconnaître et d’éliminer les cellules cancéreuses, et à les réinjecter au patient. Mais cette méthode, bien que prometteuse, est coûteuse et s’étale sur plusieurs semaines.

Rendez-vous dans au plus six ans 

Touché personnellement par la maladie d’un proche, Latere décide de s’attaquer à ces limites. Son objectif : rendre la thérapie plus rapide et accessible au plus grand nombre. En 2020, il quitte Celyad et fonde EsoBiotec. Son idée est simple mais audacieuse : utiliser le corps du patient comme laboratoire. C’est ainsi qu’est née la thérapie cellulaire in vivo. Contrairement à la méthode classique, cette approche élimine plusieurs étapes (prélèvement sanguin, transport, manipulation en laboratoire), rendant le traitement à la fois plus rapide et moins coûteux.

Au cœur de cette innovation se trouve une plateforme développée par EsoBiotec : l’Engineered NanoBody Lentiviral (ENaBL, qui signifie « permettre » en français). Il s’agit d’un outil génétique aux applications potentielles multiples, capable de cibler différents types de cancers, et peut-être même certaines maladies auto-immunes.

Lorsqu’il se lance dans cette aventure, Jean-Pierre Latere, alors âgé de 45 ans, s’imagine parti pour vingt ans de travail… Mais une douzaine d’années pourrait suffire. Le premier produit est espéré sur le marché d’ici cinq à six ans.

Pierre Mukoko et Ronsard Luabeya, stagiaire

Les chefs d’État et de gouvernement de la Communauté de l’Afrique de l’Est (EAC) et de la Communauté de développement de l’Afrique australe (SADC) se sont réunis, lundi 24 mars 2025, pour un deuxième sommet conjoint consacré à la crise sécuritaire dans l’est de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC). À l’issue de cette réunion, tenue par visioconférence, cinq anciens chefs d’État ont été désignés comme facilitateurs du processus de paix.

Il s’agit de l’ancien président nigérian Olusegun Obasanjo, de l’ancien président kényan Uhuru Kenyatta, de l’ex-chef d’État sud-africain Kgalema Motlanthe, de l’ancienne présidente centrafricaine Catherine Samba-Panza et de l’ex-présidente éthiopienne Sahle-Work Zewde. Leur nomination a été effectuée sur la base de critères de genre, de représentation régionale et linguistique, précise le communiqué officiel.

Ce panel de facilitateurs aura pour mission de poursuivre les efforts de dialogue entre les parties en conflit. Cette responsabilité était jusqu’ici assumée par le président angolais João Lourenço, qui a annoncé son retrait afin de se consacrer pleinement aux priorités continentales, alors que l’Angola assure la présidence en exercice de l’Union africaine depuis deux mois.

COMMUNIQUÉ DE LA DEUXIÈME RÉUNION CONJOINTE DU SOMMET DES CHEFS D’ÉTAT ET DE GOUVERNEMENT DE L’EAC ET DE LA SADC ; TENUE PAR VIDÉOCONFÉRENCE

24 MARS 2025

Le Sommet conjoint des chefs d'État et de gouvernement de la Communauté de l'Afrique de l'Est (EAC) et de la Communauté de… pic.twitter.com/jiOoNHrKyI

— SADC Secretariat (@SADC_News) March 24, 2025

Depuis janvier, les rebelles du M23 ont lancé une offensive dans l’est de la RDC avec le soutien du Rwanda. Ces forces contrôlent aujourd’hui plusieurs zones stratégiques, notamment les villes de Goma et Bukavu. Les initiatives régionales et internationales peinent à mettre fin au conflit.

La semaine dernière, une rencontre inattendue entre le président congolais Félix Tshisekedi et son homologue rwandais Paul Kagame s’est tenue au Qatar. Selon le communiqué conjoint publié à l’issue de cette rencontre, « les chefs d’État ont réaffirmé l’engagement de toutes les parties en faveur d’un cessez-le-feu immédiat et inconditionnel », comme convenu lors du premier sommet conjoint EAC-SADC tenu en février à Dar es Salaam, en Tanzanie.

Le sommet EAC-SADC du 24 mars a également validé une feuille de route précisant les mesures à mettre en œuvre à court, moyen et long terme pour instaurer une paix durable et renforcer la sécurité dans l’est de la RDC. Cette feuille de route n’a pas été rendue publique. On sait simplement que les participants ont exhorté à une mise en œuvre rapide des mesures prévues et demandé aux co-présidents d’organiser un briefing avec les facilitateurs dans la semaine, en collaboration avec l’Union africaine.

Charlène N’dimon, Agence Ecofin

 Lire aussi :

Conflit à l’est de la RDC : l’Angola se retire des efforts de médiation

Conflit à l’est de la RDC : l’espoir de paix qui vient du Qatar

DP World entrusted Mota-Engil, a Portuguese firm, with the project to build the Banana deepwater port in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). DP World announced this in a press release on March 20, 2025.

Several international media outlets reported that Mota-Engil revealed that its subsidiary, Mota-Engil Africa, signed a €230 million ($250 million) agreement for the first phase of development. This phase includes constructing a 600-meter quay with an 18-meter draft capable of handling the world’s largest vessels, a 30-hectare storage area, and an annual capacity of 450,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units).

Construction has already made progress on some components. Expobéton reported that by June 2023, 88% of the protective breakwater had been completed. This may explain why the current contract value for Mota-Engil’s scope is lower than the initial estimates of $350 million for this phase.

The project is being developed as part of a public-private partnership between DP World and the Congolese government. Under the agreement, initially signed in March 2018 and revised in December 2021, DP World provides financing and technical expertise while the DRC government provides land, supporting infrastructure like the Banana-Matadi road, tax exemptions, and partial funding. The overall cost of the port is estimated at $1.3 billion. The concession agreement between the Emirati firm and the Congolese group is valid for 30 years, extendable to 50 years.

To develop the project, the two partners have set up a joint venture, which DP World controls with a 70% stake. The Congolese government holds the remaining 30%.

A world-class port

Work on the Banana deepwater port project began in 2022 but was significantly delayed before halting in 2024 due to "technical and financial disputes," according to Expobéton. A breakthrough came in September 2024 when Deputy Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba led a meeting that resolved the impasse, allowing construction to resume the following month. However, the current status of the project remains unclear, and the completion of its first phase, originally scheduled for 2025, is still uncertain.

Following the recent signing of a $250 million contract with Mota-Engil for the port's development, DP World Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem reaffirmed his company’s commitment to delivering "world-class infrastructure." He stated, "By partnering with Mota-Engil, we guarantee that this world-class infrastructure will be built to the highest standards, promoting economic growth and creating new opportunities for the Congolese population." Carlos Mota Santos, President of Mota-Engil, highlighted that the agreement "demonstrates the recognition and confidence that one of the world's largest port operators places in Mota-Engil."

Mota-Engil brings extensive experience to the project, including its operations at ports along Lake Malawi and its involvement in Angola’s Lobito rail corridor. However, some observers view the Lobito corridor, which facilitates Congolese mineral exports through Angola, as a potential competitor to Banana Port's future role as a logistics hub.

Strategically vital for the DRC, Banana Port will provide the country with its first direct access to the Atlantic Ocean, reducing reliance on neighboring ports such as Pointe-Noire (Republic of Congo) and Matadi. The port is expected to integrate the DRC into major global shipping routes while boosting trade sovereignty.

This article was initially published in French by Pierre Mukoko and Timothée Manoke (intern)

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Le chef de division provinciale des Transports, Voies de communication et Désenclavement de la Tshopo, Jean-Marie Olinda Lituambela, a annoncé avoir informé, lors d’une réunion tenue le 24 mars 2025, le commissaire fluvial, les responsables des régies des voies fluviales, la police fluviale, les forces navales ainsi que le président de l’Association des armateurs de la décision de retirer de la circulation, dans les prochains jours à Kisangani, les embarcations en bois de plus de cinq ans, notamment les baleinières.

« La loi sur la navigation fluviale nous dit que lorsqu’une embarcation a duré plus de cinq ans, il faut la déclasser. Les équipes descendront incessamment sur le terrain pour identifier les embarcations, vérifier leur état technique, déterminer leur nombre réel », a précisé Jean-Marie Olinda Lituambela à l’Agence congolaise de presse. Il a ajouté que les propriétaires des embarcations concernées seront ensuite sensibilisés afin qu’ils puissent en construire de nouvelles.

En l’absence d’un tel remplacement, l’offre de transport fluvial, essentielle aux échanges vers ou depuis Kisangani, pourrait être fortement perturbée. Selon une étude de l’anthropologue Peter Lambertz, publiée en 2023, entre 2018 et 2019, le nombre de ces embarcations dans les ports privés de la ville est passé de 66 à 81, appartenant à 56 puis 69 armateurs différents. Ces bateaux, pouvant atteindre 50 mètres de long, relient Kisangani à des localités telles qu’Isangi, Lokutu, Basoko, Opala, et même Mbandaka. Ils transportent du riz, de l’huile de palme, du poisson, du charbon de bois et d’autres produits de première nécessité, assurant ainsi la sécurité alimentaire de la région. Sans eux, de nombreux marchés périodiques — Yafira, Yanonge, Yangambi, etc. — se retrouveraient isolés, privant les populations rurales de débouchés commerciaux.

Comme le souligne l’étude, les barges métalliques modernes, héritées de l’époque coloniale, sont trop coûteuses et mal adaptées aux besoins locaux. Elles servent principalement au transport de marchandises lourdes vers Kinshasa, avec des trajets limités à deux à quatre voyages par an. En outre, elles interdisent officiellement les passagers, contrairement aux baleinières qui leur réservent un étage supérieur.

Boaz Kabeya, stagiaire

Lire aussi :

Transport fluvial : la RDC investit un million de dollars pour quatre nouveaux ferries

Le naufrage sur le lac Kivu souligne l’urgence d’investir dans la modernisation du transport fluvial