Le marché des assurances en République démocratique du Congo (RDC) devrait dépasser le milliard de dollars au cours des dix prochaines années. La projection est du directeur général de l’Autorité de régulation et de contrôle des assurances (ARCA), Alain Kanyinda, qui s’est exprimé le 17 mars 2025 à l’occasion de la célébration des dix ans du Code des assurances. Selon lui, la RDC, avec ses 100 millions d’habitants, pourrait même atteindre un marché estimé à 5 milliards de dollars si la densité d’assurance passait à 5 dollars par habitant, contre moins d’un dollar actuellement.

Pour soutenir cette ambition, l’ARCA mise sur plusieurs leviers : un contrôle plus strict des opérateurs, la sensibilisation et la vulgarisation des produits d’assurance pour améliorer le taux de pénétration — actuellement de 0,71 % du PIB — ainsi qu’un assainissement du marché, notamment en luttant contre l’évasion des primes.

La digitalisation est également perçue comme un catalyseur de croissance. Pour Vincent Mwepu, président de l’Association des sociétés d'assurance et de réassurance de la RDC (ASAR), la vente de produits via le téléphone portable ou d’autres outils numériques permettrait d’étendre l’assurance à tous les coins du pays. Toutefois, cette option n’est pas encore prévue dans le Code des assurances actuel, mais des discussions sont en cours pour adapter le cadre légal, assure le régulateur.

Le secteur des assurances a été libéralisé par la loi du 17 mars 2015, qui a également institué l’ARCA. Cependant, la libéralisation effective n’est intervenue qu’en 2019. Depuis, le marché est en pleine expansion : il est passé d’un chiffre d’affaires de 70 millions de dollars en 2019 à plus de 350 millions en 2024, selon Alain Kanyinda Ngalula.

Cette dynamique a été portée par la diversification des produits, longtemps dominés par l’assurance automobile, et désormais élargis à l’assurance incendie, santé ou encore crédit. Aujourd’hui, le marché congolais compte 48 opérateurs agréés, dont 10 sociétés d’assurance, 36 courtiers et 2 réassureurs panafricains.

Ronsard Luabeya, stagiaire

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) plans to set up a support program for its exporters and producers. Foreign Trade Minister Julien Paluku disclosed the ambition on March 12, 2025, on X (formerly Twitter). The project, Paluku said, should help local exporters capitalize on trade agreements such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) with the U.S. and the recently signed trade pact with China.

"Our Congolese producers and exporters need innovative financing to strengthen their capacity to conquer these markets and thus improve our trade balance," Paluku stated.

To achieve this goal, the government plans to involve Equity BCDC, a bank in which the State holds a 12.17% stake. Paluku recently met with Hugues Efole, Equity Group’s Director, Payments and Cross-border Remittances. Spurred by the meeting, a technical commission comprising experts from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Equity BCDC was set up to implement the program.

Equity BCDC is a key actor supporting exporters in the DRC. It provides them with bridge financing and funding agricultural cooperatives for collection, processing, and export activities, facilitating their access to international markets. This new initiative builds on the government’s broader strategy to boost exports under AGOA. 

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

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

The Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) plans to set up an arbitration center in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). OHADA’s Permanent Secretary Mayata Ndiaye announced the ambition on March 17, 2025, during a meeting with Guylain Nyembo, the DRC’s Deputy Prime Minister. Besides boosting legal security for investors, the center should improve the business climate. 

"Concerning the investment climate, the exchange focused on the project to set up an arbitration center office here in Kinshasa. We are very pleased to announce its support for the immediate and urgent realization of this project, which can be useful to us not only for investment contracts but also for managing disputes related to the exploitation of the DRC's natural resources," Guylain Nyembo declared.

The project was approved last August, at OHADA’s 57th Council of Ministers in Dakar, Senegal. 

In detail, the arbitration center will provide businesses with a neutral alternative to state courts for resolving disputes.

OHADA’s move addresses systemic challenges in the DRC’s legal landscape, where judicial inefficiencies and corruption have long deterred investment. Despite President Félix Tshisekedi’s pledge last November to “purge” the justice system of its “scourges” during the États Généraux de la Justice, implementation of reforms remains pending. 

In the World Bank’s 2021 Doing Business report, the DRC ranked 183rd out of 190 countries, underscoring systemic issues in contract enforcement and investor protection.

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

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

The occupation of key towns in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by M23 rebels, reportedly backed by Rwanda’s army, has severely disrupted the region’s economy, including its once-thriving brewing market. Shortages and soaring prices for Congolese beers have fueled imports from Rwanda and Burundi, reshaping local consumption patterns.

In Bukavu, which the rebels recently overtook, the price of a bottle of Brasimba beer has skyrocketed from 3,500 to 8,000 Congolese francs (CF), while in Kiwanja, large-format Primus bottles now sell for between CF6,000 and CF7,000. Meanwhile, Rwandan and Burundian beers like Primus Rwanda and Amstel remain more affordable, priced between CF3,000 and CF4,000 in bars across Goma’s Karisimbi commune. Bar owners and terrace operators are increasingly turning to neighboring countries for supplies to sustain their businesses, benefiting Rwandan and Burundian breweries at the expense of local production.

The crisis deepened in February 2025 when M23 rebels entered Bukavu and looted the warehouses of Bralima, one of the DRC’s largest breweries. This ransacking has jeopardized over 1,000 jobs tied to Bralima’s operations, including contractors and subcontractors facing financial uncertainty. The brewery’s reduced capacity underscores the broader economic toll of the conflict.

Ronsard Luabeya (intern)

On March 17, 2025, the European Union unveiled new sanctions against some Rwandan officials. The EU accused the officials of being involved in the ongoing war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the illicit exploitation of Congolese mineral resources. The sanctions effectively target the Gasabo Gold Refinery in Kigali and Francis Kamanzi, head of Rwanda's mining regulator.

Mining has become a pillar of the Rwandan economy in recent years. In 2023, the sector contributed nearly 70% of Rwanda’s total exports and 3% of GDP, earning the country $1.1 billion; gold alone contributed $883 million. 

With a mineral potential valued at $150 billion, Rwanda attracts major foreign investors. For example, in July 2024, Rwanda announced it had partnered with Rio Tinto, the world's second-largest mining group by market capitalization. This was a deal to explore and exploit 3T (tin, tantalum, and tungsten) and lithium deposits. The same year, in February, even the EU had signed a strategic minerals partnership with Kigali.

Plundering Accusations

Now, however, several independent reports and the Congolese government allege that most of the minerals exported by Rwanda are smuggled from the DRC. The DRC accuses Rwanda of supporting the rebels that recently invaded its eastern regions, and asks Kigali’s international partners to stop cooperating with President Kagame’s country.

"The transit of gold through Rwanda's only gold refinery, Gasabo Gold Refinery, contributes to the illicit export through Rwanda of illegally mined gold. Gasabo Gold Refinery has therefore exploited armed conflict, instability or insecurity in the DRC, in particular through the illicit exploitation or trade of natural resources," reads an official note signed by Kaja Kallas, Vice-President of the European Commission. The document added that Francis Kamanzi, head of Rwanda's mining regulator, was taking advantage of the conflict and instability in the DRC, through illegal trade and mining.

The Congolese government welcomed the EU sanctions. “These sanctions are the first step in the fight against Rwanda's plundering of the DRC's mineral wealth,” the Congolese Ministry of Communication wrote in a statement dated March 17, 2025.

Despite these developments, it remains unclear how the sanctions will impact Rwanda’s mining sector or its attractiveness to investors in 2025. Not all refineries in Rwanda face sanctions and global traceability mechanisms have so far failed to prevent minerals looted by rebels in the DRC from entering international supply chains.

This article was initially published in French by Emiliano Tossou

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

En mission à Washington (États-Unis), le ministre des Postes, Télécommunications et Numérique (PTN), Augustin Kibassa Maliba, a rencontré, le 18 mars 2025, les représentants de Starlink afin d’examiner les opportunités d’expansion de la connectivité en République démocratique du Congo (RDC), selon un communiqué de la cellule de communication du ministère.

Ce rapprochement intervient après une période de friction. En mars 2024, l’Autorité de régulation de la poste et des télécommunications du Congo (ARPTC) avait interdit à Starlink d’exploiter l’espace congolais, prévenant que « tout connexion, vente ou usage de ces équipements est considéré comme une violation des lois en vigueur et expose les contrevenants à des sanctions ».

L’entretien a porté sur la possibilité de déployer la technologie satellitaire de Starlink pour améliorer l’accès à Internet, notamment dans les zones rurales où près de 70 % de la population reste non connectée. Le ministre congolais a exprimé la volonté du gouvernement de renforcer l’infrastructure numérique nationale et de faciliter l’accès au haut débit pour les écoles, les centres de santé et les localités isolées, précise le communiqué. Il a également souligné l’importance de cette collaboration, à la fois pour le développement numérique et pour la sécurité nationale.

Filiale de SpaceX du milliardaire américain Elon Musk, Starlink a présenté ses capacités et son expertise en matière de connectivité satellitaire, mettant en avant ses réalisations dans plusieurs pays africains. L’entreprise est spécialisée dans l’accès à Internet par satellite, avec pour objectif de fournir une connectivité haut débit dans les zones où les infrastructures traditionnelles (fibre optique, réseau mobile) sont limitées ou inexistantes.

À l’issue des échanges, les deux parties ont convenu d’entamer les démarches administratives nécessaires, notamment l’élaboration d’un cahier des charges et l’obtention des licences d’exploitation. Un projet pilote devrait être lancé prochainement afin d’évaluer la faisabilité technique et l’impact social de cette initiative.

Ronsard Luabeya, stagiaire

Lire aussi :

Infrastructures numériques : un milliard de dollars d’investissements annoncés en RDC

Internet : Bill Gates discute de la connectivité par satellite avec le président Tshisekedi

La RDC veut investir 20 millions $ pour acquérir un satellite d'observation

After failing to meet several times over the past months, Presidents Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Paul Kagame of Rwanda finally sat face-to-face on March 18, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. The meeting, mediated by Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, marked a significant diplomatic breakthrough toward resolving the escalating conflict in eastern DRC. 

According to a joint communiqué issued after the talks, “the Heads of State reaffirmed the commitment of all parties to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire,” referencing agreements made at the February summit of the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders in Dar es Salaam. A week after the summit, the M3 rebels and their Rwandan allies captured Bukavu. 

The communiqué also emphasized continuing discussions under the Luanda/Nairobi peace process to establish lasting foundations for peace. It described the Doha meeting as contributing to “a shared commitment to a secure and stable future for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the region.”

This meeting brought fresh hope following the abrupt cancellation of peace talks in Angola scheduled for the same day. The withdrawal of M23 rebels from those negotiations, citing European Union sanctions imposed on their leaders on March 17, further undermined efforts to resolve the conflict. Tshisekedi and Kagame had not met since February 2024 at an African Union summit, and previous attempts at dialogue—including a planned December summit in Luanda—had collapsed.

The Emir of Qatar played a crucial role in bringing the two leaders together. According to Congolese presidential spokeswoman Tina Salama, Qatar is viewed as a “strategic ally” by both nations. This mediation effort underscores Qatar’s growing influence as a neutral facilitator in complex geopolitical disputes.

The stakes are high for eastern DRC, a mineral-rich region that M23 started invading in January, seizing key cities like Goma and Bukavu and causing widespread displacement. The conflict has claimed an estimated 7,000 lives this year alone. Accusations that Rwanda supports M23—backed by United Nations reports—have strained regional relations, with Kigali denying any direct involvement.

This article was initially published in French by Pierre Mukoko

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

A $634 million project was recently launched to boost access to power and clean water in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Teddy Lwamba, Minister of Hydraulic Resources and Electricity, officially launched project, known as AGREE, on March 18. 

The project will be deployed in 14 towns, including Kinshasa, Kikwit, Bandundu, Tshikapa, Kananga, Mbuji-Mayi, Mwene-Ditu, Kabinda, Bukavu, Goma, Butembo, Beni, Bunia, and Boma. The AGREE is mostly backed by the World Bank, with a $600 million facility—split equally between a loan and a grant. The remaining $34 million is a grant from the Green Climate Fund. 

While the related financing agreement was signed in June 2022, it has taken nearly three years to finalize implementation. The DRC now faces a tight timeline to fully utilize the funds by the project’s closing date of September 30, 2029. This deadline presents challenges, particularly in conflict-affected zones such as Goma and Bukavu, where M23 rebels and their Rwandan backers maintain control.

The AGREE project allocates $30.75 million to improving governance and management of the Congolese power utility, Société Nationale d'Électricité (SNEL), and the water sector. Another $33.50 million is earmarked for technical assistance to provincial governments, central agencies, and service providers in the sanitation, water, and electricity sectors.

A significant $212.50 million will support electrification efforts in Kananga and Mbuji-Mayi through private sector involvement. Additionally, $223.25 million is dedicated to expanding public access to electricity and water infrastructure with private sector participation.  This includes rehabilitating parts of SNEL’s distribution network in Kinshasa and Gbadolite, extending water supply systems in Kananga and Goma-Ouest, improving sanitation in Bukavu, and fostering human capital development in targeted cities.

These four components account for $500 million of the total budget; however, details on how the remaining $134 million will be allocated have not been disclosed.

This article was initially published in French by Boaz Kabeya (intern)

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho