• Enforcement surge sees economic controls recover $1.77 million in first half of 2025—nearly seven times the entire 2024 total—through coordinated crackdown on pricing violations

• Regulatory overhaul includes restructured Competition Commission (now Comco) with financial autonomy and 300 newly trained economic inspectors to combat anti-competitive practices

• Consumer protection focus drives targeted supermarket inspections following Carrefour pricing controversy, as government strengthens framework to preserve household purchasing power

Economic enforcement operations recovered 5.053 million Congolese francs ($1.77 million) in the first half of 2025—nearly seven times the amount collected in all of 2024—as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) intensifies its fight against pricing violations and anti-competitive practices.

The Ministry of the National Economy announced on September 1 that the dramatic increase reflects coordinated efforts between economic control services and the Competition Commission to crack down on breaches of price and competition legislation across key sectors.

The surge in recoveries coincides with significant regulatory reforms. In July, the Council of Ministers restructured the Competition Commission, renaming it Comco (formerly Conac) and granting it administrative and financial autonomy to better combat anti-competitive practices, particularly in strategic sectors like imported foodstuffs.

Enforcement capacity has also expanded substantially, with nearly 300 new economic inspectors completing training in advanced control techniques in June. These agents are tasked with verifying price compliance in markets nationwide to protect household purchasing power amid economic pressures.

The government's heightened vigilance became visible during targeted inspections of Kinshasa supermarkets following controversy over pricing at the Carrefour Hyper Psaro supermarket. According to an August 5 press release, these missions aimed to ensure pricing practices adhered to transparency and fairness principles, though inspection results remain unpublished.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the National Economy Daniel Mukoko Samba urged his departments to maintain the enforcement momentum, emphasizing the need to ensure legislative compliance and preserve consumer purchasing power over the long term.

The crackdown reflects broader government efforts to stabilize prices and protect consumers as Congo navigates economic challenges while strengthening its regulatory framework.

Timothée Manoke