The Congolese government has decided to shut down 402 private placement services operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, notably for failing to obtain approval from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, supervising minister Ferdinand Massamba wa Massamba said at a cabinet meeting on April 3, 2026.

The move follows a compliance review launched in February 2026 targeting private placement services to verify whether they met legal requirements. Inspectors examined recruitment conditions, compliance with contractual obligations and worker protections.

Authorities identified 635 private placement services nationwide. Of these, 233 were found to be compliant, while 402 were operating in violation of regulations. Reported breaches include operating without a license, failure to provide employment contracts, lack of medical coverage, non-compliance with the minimum wage, and failure to pay social security contributions and personal income tax.

The ministry has granted a 30-day grace period to allow existing contracts to be transferred to licensed operators. After that deadline, the 402 non-compliant services will be permanently shut down.

The crackdown forms part of a broader inspection campaign launched in October 2025, when 176 out of 625 identified services were found to comply with regulations.

The minister said the initiative follows a directive from the president, issued during the 58th cabinet meeting, to clean up the private placement sector and strengthen protections for Congolese workers.

Ronsard Luabeya

Le gouvernement congolais a décidé de fermer 402 services privés de placement (SPP) opérant en République démocratique du Congo, en raison notamment de l’absence d’agrément délivré par le ministère de l’Emploi et du Travail. L’annonce a été faite lors du Conseil des ministres du 3 avril 2026 par le ministre de tutelle, Ferdinand Massamba wa Massamba.

Cette mesure fait suite à une mission de contrôle lancée en février 2026 auprès des structures de placement privées, dans le but d’évaluer la conformité de leurs activités aux exigences légales en vigueur. Les vérifications ont porté notamment sur les conditions de recrutement, le respect des obligations contractuelles ainsi que la protection sociale des travailleurs.

D’après les résultats présentés, 635 services privés de placement ont été recensés à travers le pays. Parmi eux, 233 sont en conformité avec la réglementation, tandis que 402 opèrent en situation irrégulière. Les manquements relevés concernent principalement l’absence d’agrément, le défaut de contrats de travail, l’absence de couverture médicale, la non-application du salaire minimum interprofessionnel garanti (SMIG), ainsi que le non-paiement des cotisations sociales et de l’impôt sur les personnes physiques.

Face à ces irrégularités, le ministère prévoit un moratoire de 30 jours afin de permettre le transfert des contrats en cours vers des structures agréées. À l’issue de ce délai, les 402 SPP concernés seront définitivement fermés. Cette opération s’inscrit dans la continuité des contrôles administratifs engagés depuis octobre 2025. À cette période, 176 services sur 625 identifiés avaient été jugés conformes.

Selon le ministre, cette démarche répond à une instruction du président de la République, formulée lors de la 58e réunion du Conseil des ministres, visant à assainir le secteur du placement privé et à renforcer la protection des travailleurs congolais.

Ronsard Luabeya

Lire aussi :

Services privés de placement: une mission de contrôle annoncée pour février 2026

Services privés de placement: une mission de contrôle annoncée pour février 2026 

La société angolaise Infrasat envisage de s’implanter sur le marché des télécommunications en République démocratique du Congo (RDC). L’annonce a été faite le 2 avril 2026 par le président de son conseil d’administration, Diego de Carvalho, à l’issue d’une audience avec le ministre de l’Économie numérique, Augustin Kibassa Maliba, à Kinshasa.

Selon Diego de Carvalho, l’entreprise prévoit de lancer dès cette année des activités techniques dans le pays, avec un positionnement axé sur les infrastructures et les services de connectivité, notamment dans les zones à faible couverture.

Entité d’Angola Telecom dédiée aux services satellitaires, Infrasat est spécialisée dans la transmission de données, l’internet haut débit et les solutions de connectivité pour les zones isolées. Lancée en 2008, l’entreprise s’appuie principalement sur les technologies satellitaires pour étendre la couverture numérique dans les régions rurales et enclavées, un segment encore insuffisamment desservi en RDC.

Au cours de la rencontre, la société a également présenté ses projets visant à accompagner la transformation digitale du pays. « Nous avons soumis au ministre des propositions destinées à soutenir le développement du pays dans sa phase de digitalisation », a indiqué Diego de Carvalho, saluant l’intérêt manifesté par les autorités congolaises.

Infrasat s’intéresse à un marché déjà concurrentiel. D’après les données de l’Autorité de régulation de la poste et des télécommunications du Congo (ARPTC), la RDC comptait 37 fournisseurs d’accès à internet au second semestre 2023, dont certains détenteurs de plusieurs licences. Parmi eux, 33 proposaient des services d’internet fixe via la fibre optique ou des connexions hertziennes de type WiMAX et VSAT, tandis que quatre opérateurs mobiles dominaient le segment de l’internet mobile.

Marché sous-exploité

Selon l’Observatoire de l’ARPTC, à fin juin 2025, l’internet mobile a généré 594 millions de dollars, soit près de 52,7 % du chiffre d’affaires global du secteur des télécommunications. Sur la même période, le nombre d’utilisateurs actifs a atteint 34,5 millions, pour un taux de pénétration de 30,79 %, tandis que le volume de données consommées a progressé de 26,91 % par rapport au premier trimestre 2025.

Sur le plan financier, Airtel dominait le marché avec 41,6 % du chiffre d’affaires, devant Orange (29,5 %), Vodacom (24,7 %) et Africell (4,1 %). En termes d’abonnements, Vodacom occupait la première place avec 36,4 % du parc, suivi d’Airtel (30,8 %), d’Orange (29,8 %) et d’Africell (3 %).

Selon les projections de la GSMA, la RDC devrait enregistrer 15 millions de nouveaux abonnés à l’internet mobile entre 2025 et 2030. Depuis mai 2025, Starlink est par ailleurs autorisée à opérer dans le pays, ce qui accentue la dynamique concurrentielle, notamment sur le segment de l’internet satellitaire.

Dans ce contexte, l’intérêt affiché par Infrasat pour la RDC confirme l’attractivité croissante du marché congolais, portée à la fois par la progression de la demande, l’extension attendue de la couverture numérique et la montée en puissance des services de connectivité dans les zones encore peu desservies.

Ronsard Luabeya

Lire aussi :

Internet : Airtel annonce le déploiement de la connectivité Starlink sur mobile dès 2026

Internet : Africell et Vodacom envisagent un partenariat avec Starlink en RDC

Internet mobile : 15 millions de nouveaux abonnés attendus en RDC d’ici 2030

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s rural electrification agency has increased the planned capacity of a hydropower project near Kananga.

The Agence nationale de l’électrification et des services énergétiques en milieux rural et périurbain (ANSER) now says the Mbombo plant will have a capacity of 20.08 MW, up from 10 MW announced at its official launch in February 2025.

The revision was formalized on April 3, 2026, when ANSER Director General Cyprien Musimar and Angelique International Limited (AIL) Chairman Ajay Krishna Goyal signed a commercial contract.

The agreement marks a new phase for the project, located on the outskirts of Kananga on the Lulua River. When provincial authorities launched construction on Feb. 15, 2025, capacity was still set at 10 MW, with costs estimated at around $35 million. ANSER is acting as the delegated project owner.

According to ANSER, the revised design calls for a plant with four generating units of about 5.02 MW each. The project also includes worker housing, access roads, and transmission infrastructure to deliver electricity to Kananga.

ANSER said the contract paves the way for negotiations on a financing agreement between the Congolese government and a commercial bank. The deal is expected to cover 70% of costs related to equipment supply, construction, installation and commissioning.

The Mbombo project comes amid renewed energy activity in the province. Construction of the Katende hydropower project, in which Angelique International Limited is also involved, resumed in August 2025.

Boaz Kabeya

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s national rural and peri-urban electrification agency, ANSER, said on April 2, 2026 it had signed a contract with German firm Gauff Engineering to carry out an electrification project across 36 territories.

The agency said the agreement follows the finalisation of the project’s financing and the completion of required preliminary steps, including approval of the contract by relevant authorities.

In March 2025, ANSER and Gauff Engineering signed a 150 million euro ($172.8 million) commercial contract in Berlin to build photovoltaic solar plants and mini hydroelectric stations to improve access to electricity in rural and peri-urban areas. At the time, the agency said a financing agreement still needed to be concluded before the project could move forward.

In its latest statement, ANSER said the project’s financing had been approved by Commerzbank’s board, ahead of a financing agreement with the Congolese Ministry of Finance.

The project involves building 230 photovoltaic and mini hydroelectric plants over four years at a total cost of 150 million euros.

Boaz Kabeya

The United States has made the proposed transaction between Glencore and the Orion Critical Mineral Consortium a top priority in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

On March 19, 2026, Nick Checker, a senior official at the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, said completing the deal was one of three “foundational” projects for implementing the strategic partnership between Washington and Kinshasa.

On Feb. 3, 2026, Glencore said it had signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Orion Critical Mineral Consortium (Orion CMC) for the potential acquisition of a 40% stake in Mutanda Mining (MUMI) and Kamoto Copper Company (KCC), two major assets in Lualaba province. Glencore said both companies would remain operated by the group if the transaction is completed.

The two sites account for a significant share of Congo’s copper and cobalt output. According to Glencore, MUMI and KCC together produced about 247,800 metric tons of copper and 33,500 metric tons of contained cobalt in 2025.

Washington sees the deal as a way to strengthen the security of its critical mineral supply chains. The move is part of the strategic partnership signed on Dec. 4, 2025, between the United States and the DRC, focused on copper, cobalt and other minerals deemed essential for industry, batteries and defense.

Launched in October 2025, Orion CMC is led by Orion Resource Partners in partnership with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). The consortium has $1.8 billion in initial investment capacity, backed by Orion, the DFC and ADQ, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund.

U.S. officials say completing the deal would both help secure supply chains and signal to private investors the appeal of Congo’s mining sector.

Ronsard Luabeya

The United States has identified the award of the concession for the Congolese segment of the Lobito corridor to Mota-Engil as a priority project under its strategic partnership with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), signed on Dec. 4, 2025.

Speaking at the Powering Africa Summit in Washington on March 19, 2026, Nick Checker, a senior official at the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, cited the award as one of three projects he described as “fundamental to the successful implementation of this partnership.”

The other two projects cited by Washington are the acquisition of Chemaf assets by a Virtus-led consortium, approved by the Congolese Ministry of Mines on March 13, 2026, and a proposed transaction between Orion Critical Mineral Consortium and Glencore involving mining assets in the DRC, still at the memorandum-of-understanding stage.

The agreement designates the Sakania-Lobito corridor as a strategic infrastructure project and a cornerstone of Congo’s industrial and commercial strategy. It sets specific transit targets: over the next five years, 50% of copper, 30% of cobalt and 90% of zinc produced or exported by state-owned companies must pass through the corridor.

Washington has openly stated its geoeconomic objectives. In the same address, Checker said the U.S. goal is to ensure African critical minerals “start flowing westward toward the United States,” citing the Lobito corridor as a model. He added that the projects would strengthen U.S. supply chains and signal to private investors that the DRC is open for business. “With the sustained commitment and leadership of President Tshisekedi, we are optimistic about the rapid completion of these initial projects,” he said.

Tender process

U.S. support for Mota-Engil is not new. On Dec. 5, 2025, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) announced a letter of intent with the Portuguese group to support the rehabilitation, operation and transfer of the Dilolo-Sakania line in the DRC. According to the DFC, that support could reach $1 billion, subject to full project review.

Congolese authorities have maintained that the process remains open. At the first corridor coordination meeting, held in Luanda in February 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba said the DRC was preparing an international tender for the rehabilitation of the Tenke-Kolwezi-Dilolo section, with a public-private partnership as the preferred model and construction expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.

While the project is still being structured, state-owned SNCC remains active on the section, where emergency works are already underway. The work targets about 80 km of critical track sections to ensure traffic continuity. Authorities say $100 million has already been invested to rehabilitate 60–70 km of track.

Official projections indicate that the corridor will make the port of Lobito more competitive than Durban in South Africa, Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Beira in Mozambique and Walvis Bay in Namibia for exports from southern DRC. Freight from mining hubs such as Tenke and Kolwezi would take between five and eight days to reach Lobito, compared with roughly 25 days to Durban. The transport minister said the reduction in transit times would cut logistics costs by up to 30%. In the first year of operation, exports of 1 million tonnes and imports of 500,000 tonnes are projected.

On the Angolan segment, Mota-Engil, Trafigura and Vecturis already operate via the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) consortium, which holds a 30-year concession for the Lobito-Luau line. That section has been operational since 2023.

Ronsard Luabeya

The Democratic Republic of Congo's standardized invoicing reform has entered a stricter enforcement phase, as temporary relief measures granted to businesses during the adjustment period are being gradually lifted.

A joint committee bringing together the Finance Ministry, the General Directorate of Taxes (DGI) and the Federation of Congo Enterprises (FEC) concluded its work on March 31, 2026, in Kinshasa without deciding on a formal suspension of the reform. A letter from the Finance Minister dated Dec. 17, 2025 temporarily suspended certain penalties linked to issuing non-standardized invoices, in response to concerns raised by the private sector. These included a 10 million Congolese franc fine per non-standardized invoice and the rejection of related VAT deductions.

The reform became mandatory on Dec. 1, 2025, and a joint committee was set up to examine the technical and operational challenges faced by businesses. Of the 52 difficulties identified by the FEC, 33 have been resolved, or 63% of the total, while 10 others remain under review, mainly relating to updates of the e-UF (electronic invoicing unit) and e-MCF (electronic invoicing control module) platforms, as well as the certification of invoicing systems.

Outstanding issues include the integration of specific taxes such as excise duties, TPI, provincial consumption tax, and ARSP and FPC levies into the VAT calculation base. The FEC argues these items are not operating expenses. Exemption requests have also been submitted for certain sectors, including domestic air transport, fuel distribution at service stations, and gambling.

Tax authorities said the reform will continue on a clearer timeline. By May 15, 2026, all VAT-registered companies will be required to file their April VAT returns using standardized invoices, except those still awaiting certification of their invoicing systems and those operating in sectors that have applied for an exemption.

Circular Expected

The reform is part of a broader strategy to boost public revenue. According to projections from the Finance Ministry, it could generate up to $200 million in additional revenue by end-2026 through tighter VAT controls.

DGI data show that VAT already represented 2,776.2 billion Congolese francs in 2023, or 23.7% of tax revenue, collected from 8,895 companies, underscoring its importance to the country's public finances.

Despite progress, the FEC flagged practices in the market, including the refusal to accept ordinary invoices issued by companies still awaiting certification, and the failure by some state-owned enterprises, which are not exempt, to issue standardized invoices. The FEC said these issues could disrupt commercial transactions if not quickly addressed.

At the conclusion of the talks, the joint committee was turned into a permanent monitoring body tasked with examining new concerns arising from the reform. The forum, which brings together the Finance Ministry, the DGI and the FEC, will now meet monthly. A ministerial circular is also expected to clarify how specific taxes are to be integrated into the VAT calculation base, a sensitive issue for businesses given its potential impact on the prices of goods and services.

Boaz Kabeya

The Democratic Republic of Congo is considering changes to domestic fuel prices as the war in the Middle East continues to disrupt global oil markets.

The move follows a meeting on Thursday, April 2, between Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, Minister of State for Hydrocarbons Acacia Bandubola and National Economy Minister Daniel Mukoko Samba.

After the meeting, Mukoko Samba said the government was closely monitoring fuel supply conditions amid severe global disruption.

“We must take all necessary steps to ensure continued access to the petroleum products we need and maintain supply,” he said. “That may require adjusting fuel prices to align with global trends.”

He added that the government also aims to preserve domestic market stability. “Across the region, fuel prices are rising,” he said.

The statement comes as authorities try to balance supply security with protecting consumers. As early as March, the prime minister ordered temporary measures to cushion the impact of external shocks.

These include cuts to certain taxes, the suspension of some border levies and steps to ensure steady imports. The aim is to limit the impact of rising global prices at the pump while maintaining fuel deliveries to the domestic market.

Mining firms already paying market rates

Some adjustments have already been implemented. On March 17, 2026, the Fuel Price Monitoring Committee approved a new pricing structure in the southern zone for mining companies and their subcontractors, which do not benefit from subsidies.

In that zone, diesel prices rose from $1.70 to $2.43 per litre, an increase of nearly 43%, while gasoline prices increased from $1.60 to $2.08, up 30%.

These operators now buy fuel at market rates, as international benchmarks have surged. Brent crude has hovered around $100 per barrel since the start of the year, compared with $60 to $70 before the conflict.

Across the region, several countries are facing similar pressures. In Zambia, authorities declared a fuel supply emergency and temporarily suspended some import taxes on petroleum products to limit price increases.

In Kenya, another key supply route for eastern DRC, officials have reported low fuel stocks. Nairobi is considering using its stabilization fund to absorb expected price increases, though any intervention is likely to be temporary.

In South Africa, rising global prices and higher transport costs are also adding pressure to the fuel market, reflecting broader regional volatility.

Against this backdrop, Kinshasa appears to be taking a cautious approach to price adjustments to avoid supply disruptions without triggering a sharp shock to the domestic market.

For now, the government has not announced an immediate, across-the-board increase in pump prices. But the signal is clear: if international tensions persist, fuel price increases in the DRC are increasingly likely.

Timothée Manoke 

La mise en œuvre de la facture normalisée en République démocratique du Congo entre dans une phase de conformité renforcée, marquée par la levée progressive des mesures temporaires accordées aux entreprises durant la période d’ajustement.

Selon les conclusions des travaux de la commission mixte réunissant le ministère des Finances, la Direction générale des impôts (DGI) et la Fédération des entreprises du Congo (FEC), le 31 mars 2026 à Kinshasa, aucune suspension formelle de la réforme n’a été décidée. En revanche, un courrier du ministre des Finances daté du 17 décembre 2025 avait neutralisé, à titre temporaire, certaines sanctions liées à l’émission de factures non normalisées, dans le cadre du traitement des préoccupations soulevées par le secteur privé. Parmi ces mesures figuraient notamment l’amende de 10 millions de francs congolais par facture non normalisée ainsi que le rejet de la déduction de la TVA correspondante.

Entrée dans sa phase obligatoire depuis le 1^er décembre 2025, la réforme a fait l’objet d’un accompagnement à travers une commission mixte chargée d’examiner les contraintes techniques et opérationnelles rencontrées par les entreprises. Sur les 52 difficultés recensées par la FEC, 33 ont été résolues, soit 63 % du total, tandis que 10 autres restent en cours de traitement, principalement en lien avec les mises à jour des plateformes e-UF (Unité de facturation électronique) et e-MCF (Module de contrôle de facturation électronique), ainsi qu’avec l’homologation des systèmes de facturation.

Certaines questions demeurent toutefois en suspens. Elles concernent notamment l’intégration des taxes spécifiques — droits d’accises, TPI, droit de consommation provincial, redevances ARSP et FPC — dans la base de calcul de la TVA. La FEC estime que ces éléments ne relèvent pas des charges d’exploitation des entreprises. Des demandes de dérogation ont également été formulées pour certains secteurs, notamment le transport aérien domestique, la distribution des produits pétroliers en stations-service et les jeux d’argent et de hasard.

Dans ce contexte, les autorités fiscales confirment la poursuite de la réforme, avec un calendrier désormais mieux balisé. À l’échéance du 15 mai 2026, la déclaration de la TVA du mois d’avril devra être effectuée sur la base des factures normalisées pour l’ensemble des entreprises assujetties, à l’exception de celles qui restent en attente d’homologation de leur système de facturation et de celles relevant de secteurs ayant sollicité une dérogation.

En attente d’une circulaire

La réforme s’inscrit dans une stratégie plus large de mobilisation des recettes publiques. Selon les projections avancées par le ministère des Finances, elle pourrait générer jusqu’à 200 millions de dollars de recettes additionnelles d’ici à fin 2026, grâce à un meilleur contrôle de la TVA.

D’après les données de la DGI, cette taxe représentait déjà 2 776,2 milliards de francs congolais en 2023, soit 23,7 % des recettes fiscales, collectées auprès de 8 895 entreprises, ce qui confirme son poids dans les finances publiques congolaises.

Malgré les avancées enregistrées, la FEC a attiré l’attention des autorités sur certaines pratiques observées sur le terrain. L’organisation patronale cite notamment le refus de paiement de factures ordinaires émises par des entreprises encore en attente d’homologation, ainsi que l’absence de délivrance de factures normalisées par certaines entreprises publiques ne bénéficiant pourtant d’aucune dérogation. Selon la FEC, ces situations risquent de perturber les transactions commerciales si elles ne sont pas rapidement encadrées.

À l’issue des travaux, la commission mixte a été transformée en comité de suivi permanent, chargé d’examiner les nouvelles préoccupations liées à la réforme. Ce cadre de concertation, réunissant le ministère des Finances, la DGI et la FEC, tiendra désormais des réunions mensuelles. Par ailleurs, une circulaire ministérielle est attendue pour préciser les modalités d’intégration des taxes spécifiques dans la base de calcul de la TVA, un point jugé sensible par les entreprises en raison de ses effets potentiels sur les prix des biens et services.

Boaz Kabeya

Lire aussi :

Facture normalisée : 200 millions $ de recettes supplémentaires visés d’ici fin 2026

Facture normalisée : 4 000 dispositifs fiscaux à distribuer pour accélérer la conformité

Facturation : seuls les logiciels homologués autorisés dès le 1er juillet en RDC