The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ministry of National Economy has announced that new regulations governing small commerce and retail trade are now in effect. According to a communiqué published on April 30, 2026, operators affected by the new rules have six months to comply with the revised framework.

The reform reaffirms that small commerce and retail trade are reserved for Congolese economic operators. It maintains the government's position of protecting local commercial activities for nationals.

The regulations also introduce an important distinction. Certain capital-intensive specialized retail activities will remain open to foreign investors, under conditions set by the regulations. The stated objective is not to exclude foreign capital entirely, but to redirect it toward segments requiring more structured investment.

The ministry said the measures follow the enactment of a decree governing small commerce and retail trade, as well as the issuance of an interministerial order defining the capital-intensive specialized retail activities open to foreign operators.

The full texts of the regulations were not yet publicly available at the time of publication, making it difficult to assess their scope precisely. Their release is expected to clarify the sectors open to foreign operators, the required capital thresholds, and the conditions for compliance.

A support mechanism

The move marks a new step in the government's policy of regulating domestic trade. Following 2025 announcements on the end of the moratorium granted to foreigners in small commerce, the government is now entering a phase of gradual enforcement, with a six-month transition period.

The ministry also plans a public awareness campaign to help economic operators understand and apply the new rules. Affected parties are encouraged to contact the relevant government services and consult the official materials that will be made available.

In substance, the reform aims to clarify the boundaries between small commerce, conventional retail trade, and capital-intensive specialized retail. It seeks to bring greater structure to a sector long marked by conflicting interpretations, widespread informality, and recurring tensions between Congolese traders and foreign operators.

The reform builds on Law No. 73/009 of January 5, 1973, which already reserved small commerce for nationals. The key change is the introduction of a more detailed framework to organize the gradual exit of foreign operators from reserved segments, while still allowing investment in more capital-intensive activities.

Ronsard Luabeya