The supply of petroleum products in Kinshasa is expected to return to normal on Oct. 23, after two days of disruption caused by vandalism, the Hydrocarbons Ministry said in a statement on Oct. 22, 2025.

The disruption began after an act of sabotage during the night of Oct. 18-19 targeting pipeline 66, operated by Société des entreprises pétrolières du Congo (SEP Congo). Unidentified individuals drilled into the pipeline in the Masina district, near Ndjili CECOMAF, to illegally siphon fuel bound for the Kinshasa depot.

The sabotage led to a temporary shutdown of pumping operations, halting deliveries and causing long queues at several gas stations across the capital.

The ministry said technical teams from SEP Congo have since sealed the leaks and restored the pipeline to service. In an Oct. 21 letter to the Hydrocarbons Minister, the company confirmed that transport and distribution operations were gradually resuming.

SEP Congo called for stronger security measures for its pipelines, including public awareness campaigns and tighter surveillance. The Hydrocarbons Ministry urged residents to remain vigilant and help protect this critical infrastructure, which is essential to the capital’s fuel supply.

‎Ronsard Luabeya 

The DRC army's aviation carried out new strikes on the Twangiza Mining gold processing plant in Mwenga territory, South Kivu, during the night of Oct. 22-23, 2025, according to local media reports. The site, located about 40 kilometers southwest of Bukavu, has been occupied by the M23 rebel group since early May 2025, forcing the company to declare force majeure.

Twangiza Mining told Reuters that it has lost over 100 kilograms of gold per month since the takeover, in addition to equipment and material valued at an estimated $5 million. The company did not specify whether the damage was due to theft, destruction, or abandonment. The approximately 500 kilograms of gold lost to date represents about $70 million at current market prices, bringing the total estimated loss to around $75 million.

The strikes overnight into Oct. 23 were the third aerial operation against the facilities held by the rebels. Previous attacks a week earlier had already damaged the electrical infrastructure supplying the plant. Local sources indicate the latest shelling targeted fuel tanks and backup generators, including those already out of service, in a bid to hinder the M23's alleged illegal gold processing activities.

Sources familiar with the operation said the Twangiza Mining plant has a production capacity of over 300 kilograms of gold per month. However, the company has not appeared in official industrial production statistics since 2021. This prolonged absence raises questions now that the firm claims to have lost over 100 kilograms of gold monthly since the site fell under rebel control.

In 2020, Canadian company Banro, which had operated the Twangiza gold mine since 2012, announced it had sold its stake to minority shareholder Baiyin International Investments for a symbolic franc. Local media reported that Baiyin subsequently transferred the site to the Chinese company Ultrawell.

Timothée Manoke

Selon un communiqué du ministère des Hydrocarbures publié le 22 octobre 2025, l’approvisionnement en produits pétroliers devrait reprendre normalement à partir du 23 octobre dans la ville de Kinshasa, après deux jours de perturbation.

Cette perturbation faisait suite à un acte de vandalisme survenu dans la nuit du 18 au 19 octobre sur le pipeline 66 de la Société des entreprises pétrolières du Congo (SEP Congo). Des individus, non identifiés à ce jour, ont perforé la canalisation dans le secteur de Masina, près de Ndjili CECOMAF, pour extraire illicitement du carburant destiné au dépôt de Kinshasa.

Ce sabotage a provoqué un arrêt momentané du pompage, entraînant la suspension des livraisons et l’apparition de files inhabituelles devant plusieurs stations-service de la capitale.

Selon le ministère, les équipes techniques de la SEP Congo ont depuis colmaté les fuites et remis le pipeline en service. Dans une correspondance adressée à la ministre des Hydrocarbures le 21 octobre, la société précise que les opérations de transport et de distribution reprennent progressivement leur cours normal.

La SEP Congo appelle à une meilleure sécurisation des pipelines, notamment par des campagnes de sensibilisation et un renforcement des mesures de surveillance. De son côté, le ministère des Hydrocarbures exhorte la population à faire preuve de vigilance et à protéger ces infrastructures essentielles à l’approvisionnement de la capitale en carburant.

‎Ronsard Luabeya 

‎Lire aussi :

Kinshasa : la demande de carburant triple, accentuant la pression sur les finances publiques

Carburants : la consommation augmente, les subventions plafonnent à 16 millions $

Kinshasa : vers des tarifs de transport ajustés aux prix du carburant Kinshasa : vers des tarifs de transport ajustés aux prix du carburant 

L’entreprise MSSZ, filiale du groupe ivoirien SCHIBA, est annoncée sur le marché de la construction d’un tronçon routier d’environ 220 kilomètres reliant Kabinda, dans la province du Lomami, à Ngandajika, dans la province du Kasaï oriental.

« Puisque l’entreprise de construction MSSZ s’est proposée de collaborer avec nous, la population congolaise peut déjà espérer voir des réalisations concrètes ici, notamment la construction de la route reliant Kabinda à Ngandajika, ainsi que d’autres travaux concernant la voirie urbaine de Kinshasa », a déclaré le ministre des Travaux publics et Infrastructures, John Banza, cité le 21 octobre 2025 par l’Agence Congolaise de Presse (ACP).

Selon le média public, le ministre a fait cette déclaration à son retour d'Abidjan, en Côte d'Ivoire, où il a notamment rencontré les dirigeants du groupe et visité certains de ses chantiers en activité.

Avant cette visite, une délégation du groupe, conduite par son président-directeur général Soro Nidjabedjan, avait été reçue à Kinshasa par John Banza Lunda. Au cours de cette rencontre, SCHIBA avait manifesté son intérêt pour des projets routiers et énergétiques en République démocratique du Congo, mettant en avant une expérience de plus de 1 200 kilomètres de routes déjà réalisées en Côte d’Ivoire.

Les initiatives se multiplient pour renforcer les échanges économiques entre la Côte d’Ivoire et la RDC. Le sujet était au centre d’une audience tenue le 15 octobre dernier entre le président national de la Fédération des entreprises du Congo (FEC), Robert Malumba Kalombo, et l’ambassadeur de Côte d’Ivoire en RDC, Xavier Zabvi.

Lors de ces échanges, les deux personnalités ont reconnu que, malgré des relations culturelles bien établies entre les deux pays, les échanges économiques demeurent encore limités, alors même que de nombreuses opportunités existent, notamment dans le cadre de la Zone de libre-échange continentale africaine (ZLECAF). Les parties ont convenu de l’organisation d’un forum économique bilatéral en 2026.

Boaz Kabeya

Lire aussi :

Le groupe ivoirien SCHIBA cible des projets routiers et énergétiques en RDC

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba met with a delegation from JPMorgan Chase & Co. on Oct. 17, 2025, during the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings. According to the Ministry, the talks are part of efforts to strengthen the country’s international credibility and raise its profile in capital markets.

Fwamba is preparing the DRC’s first Eurobond issue, a deal expected before June 30, 2026, to raise $1.5 billion. JPMorgan, which has advised several African states including Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and Angola, specializes in structuring sovereign bond transactions.

At the meeting, Fwamba highlighted macroeconomic stability and ongoing reforms to improve transparency in public financial management. “We want investors to see the DRC as a reliable partner committed to sustainable development,” he said, citing efforts to fight corruption and strengthen public finances.

JPMorgan welcomed progress on the business climate and expressed interest in further engagement with Congolese authorities. The bank plans a working visit to Kinshasa in the coming weeks.

The DRC’s inflation has fallen to 7.8% from 15.1% a year earlier, while the Congolese franc has gained about 23% on the official market, trading near 2,200 per dollar. The country’s public debt stands at a modest 22.5% of GDP, with speculative ratings of B- (S&P) and B3 (Moody’s), both stable.

However, analysts say the DRC’s continued inclusion on the FATF gray list remains a key obstacle, keeping the country tagged as high-risk for money laundering and terrorist financing. Despite efforts to comply, the FATF said in June that “work remains to be done.”

Ronsard Luabeya

The Office of Multimodal Freight Management (OGEFREM) announced the start of preliminary construction for the Kalamba-Mbuji dry port in Luiza territory, Kasai-Central province.

Regional Director Matthieu Tshilumba Kalenga confirmed the news on Oct. 16, 2025, after a meeting with Governor Joseph-Moïse Kambulu Nkonko. He said the necessary funds are already in place. The first stage will involve building a security fence around the 70-hectare site.

The completed dry port will include a truck park, service stations, driver housing, and offices for border services, all centralized in a one-stop shop.

The project follows OGEFREM’s acquisition of land titles for the site in February. Located near the DRC-Angola border, the Kalamba-Mbuji dry port is designed to boost trade by linking Kasai-Central with Angolan seaports, particularly the Port of Lobito. It also complements the Kananga-Kalamba-Mbuji road project currently under construction.

In April, OGEFREM Director General William Kazumba Mayombo said the agency had secured advance funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to conduct feasibility studies for the Kalamba-Mbuji dry port and planned logistics hubs in Matamba, Bilomba, and Mbulungu. These studies will also assess traffic on the Kandiadi-Kamako-Tshikapa, Kandiadi-Tshikapa, and Tshikapa-Kananga corridors, key routes for cross-border trade.

Ronsard Luabeya

Les médias locaux rapportent que dans la nuit du 22 au 23 octobre 2025, l’aviation des Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo (FARDC) a de nouveau mené des frappes sur l’usine de transformation d’or de Twangiza Mining, située dans le territoire de Mwenga, au Sud-Kivu. Située à une quarantaine de kilomètres au sud-ouest de Bukavu, le site est occupée par le M23 depuis le début du mois de mai 2025, poussant l’entreprise à déclarer un cas de force majeure.

Dans une correspondance envoyée à Reuters, Twangiza Mining affirme avoir perdu plus de 100 kilogrammes d’or par mois depuis la prise de contrôle du site, ainsi que du matériel et des équipements d’une valeur estimée à 5 millions de dollars, bien que la nature exacte des dommages — vol, destruction ou abandon — ne soit pas précisée. Au prix actuel du marché, les 500 kilogrammes d’or dérobé jusqu’ici représente environ 70 millions de dollars. Ce qui porterait le préjudice total à environ 75 millions de dollars.

Les frappes de la nuit du 22 au 23 constituent la troisième opération aérienne menée contre les installations tenues par les rebelles. Les précédentes attaques, survenues il y a une semaine, avaient déjà endommagé les infrastructures électriques alimentant l’usine. Selon les sources locales, cette fois, les tirs auraient visé les réservoirs de carburant et les groupes électrogènes de secours, y compris ceux déjà hors service, afin de ralentir le traitement illégal de l’or par le M23.

D’après des sources familières des installations, la capacité de production de l’usine de Twangiza Mining atteindrait plus de 300 kilogrammes d’or par mois. Toutefois, l’entreprise ne figurait plus dans les statistiques officielles de production industrielle depuis 2021. Cette absence prolongée interroge d’autant plus aujourd’hui, alors qu’elle affirme avoir perdu plus de 100 kilogrammes d’or par mois depuis la prise de contrôle du site.

En 2020, la société canadienne Banro, qui exploitait la mine d’or de Twangiza depuis 2012, avait annoncé avoir cédé ses parts à l’actionnaire minoritaire Baiyin International Investments pour un franc symbolique. Selon les médias locaux, cette dernière aurait ensuite transféré le site à la société chinoise Ultrawell.

Timothée Manoke

Lire aussi :

Or : la curieuse absence de Twangiza Mining des registres officiels depuis 2021

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed an agreement on Oct. 20 with Mauritius-based investment firm United Investment LMT (UIL) to strengthen its national digital infrastructure, Congolese media reported. The partnership, first agreed in 2023, is estimated to be worth about $150 million.

The project covers feasibility studies, the rollout of 60,000-80,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cable nationwide, the installation of a new 192-terabit-per-second submarine cable, and the construction of three data centers, according to Scoop RDC. It will also include the establishment of a national telecom operator providing both fixed and wireless services. No implementation timeline was provided.

“The DRC needs at least 40,000 to 50,000 kilometers of fiber to achieve full connectivity. Internet access remains below 30%,” said José Mpanda Kabangu, Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, during the signing of supplementary documents with UIL. “The President wants all 145 territories of the country to be connected. I wish this project every success and will give it my full support.”

Expanding digital infrastructure and connectivity is one of four key goals of the 2026–2030 National Digital Plan (PNN2), which seeks to position the DRC as a regional digital hub. To support the strategy, the government plans to invest $1 billion over five years, alongside $500 million in external funding from international partners.

The country is also pursuing other public-private partnerships. Nigeria’s Fidelity Bank has expressed interest in financing a national telecom satellite project to improve connectivity.

The DRC scored 31/100 on the ITU’s 2024 ICT Development Index, ranking 41st out of 47 African countries. According to GSMA, about 32% of the population still lacked mobile internet coverage in 2024. The organization also noted that the DRC had around 9,631 kilometers of fiber installed, with another 29,000 kilometers planned by public and private operators. The country is connected to the WACS and 2Africa submarine cables, according to Submarine Cable Map.

Isaac K. Kassouwi, Ecofin Agency

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba has instructed the Directorate General of Taxes (DGI) to extend the moratorium on enforcing the tax clearance certificate until Dec. 31, 2025, according to members of the Federation of Congolese Enterprises (FEC).

The directive, dated Oct. 9, 2025, gives companies more time to comply but applies only to specific operations defined in an earlier July 25 order.

Fwamba made clear that no further extension will be granted beyond Dec. 31, requiring all affected firms to bring their tax affairs into compliance. The decision has drawn concern from the private sector, which says the government had previously pledged to engage in talks with business groups to clarify and improve the system.

At a Council of Ministers meeting on Sept. 12, President Félix Tshisekedi criticized some tax clearance procedures as “disproportionate given their impact on economic activity.” He asked the Prime Minister to work with the Finance Ministry, DGI, and business leaders to review the process.

On Sept. 25, Fwamba met with the FEC, announcing plans for a standing dialogue forum and a National Fiscal Mediation Commission to foster transparency and inclusive tax reform.

Under a Finance Ministry decree issued on April 9, 2025, the clearance must be granted within 10 days of application; after that, it is automatically approved if no response is issued. Companies say this rule is rarely observed, citing lengthy delays.

Another unresolved issue concerns who must present the clearance during customs operations, the goods owner or the clearing agent.

The reform aims to improve compliance in a country where fiscal discipline remains weak. The DRC’s tax-to-GDP ratio is below 15%, compared with a sub-Saharan African average of 23%, according to the OECD.

Timothée Manoke

Esengo Towers, a joint venture between Orange RDC and Vodacom Congo, plans to invest $179 million over four years to deploy 1,000 telecom towers across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to expand mobile coverage.

Esengo Towers CEO Jean-Philippe Léonard announced the plan on Oct. 22, 2025, after meeting with Minister of Posts and Telecommunications José Mpanda Kabangu.

The company, founded in January 2025 and equally owned by the two mobile operators, aims to expand rural connectivity by building solar-powered base stations equipped with 2G and 4G technology. It also targets the construction of 2,000 towers within six years.

The project has faced delays. The first station was expected to be operational by end-2025, but the firm still lacks an operating license. Léonard said obtaining the license is crucial before choosing suppliers and finalizing financing, and he now expects construction to begin in 2026.

He asked the minister to help secure authorization from the Regulatory Authority of Posts and Telecommunications (ARPTC). In a ministry statement, Kabangu expressed government support and noted that the DRC needs about 300,000 towers for full coverage, compared with 5,105 currently.

“The 2,000 towers planned by Esengo Towers, though not enough to meet national needs, represent a major contribution, especially for rural areas,” Kabangu said.

Orange RDC and Vodacom Congo will share the infrastructure as anchor tenants for 20 years and open it to other operators to share costs and broaden coverage, targeting 19 million new users and promoting digital inclusion and mobile financial access.

‎Ronsard Luabeya