The Democratic Republic of Congo plans to strengthen oversight by its Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DGDA) from 2026, according to an International Monetary Fund report published in January 2026. The plan includes acquiring non-intrusive inspection equipment such as container scanners and volumetric scanners from leading international manufacturers, as part of a customs modernization program.
The goal is to improve the authorities’ ability to check shipments without routinely opening cargo, using more advanced technology. The IMF report says the measures form part of a broader strategy to secure revenue, particularly in high-risk sectors. Authorities said they want to step up controls on physical shipments linked to exports to allow a more accurate assessment of export volumes, mineral content and moisture content.
“Studies show that our country loses nearly half of its potential mining revenue due to insufficient controls on volumes and the content of valuable metals,” authorities cited in the report said.
The document also outlines the operational approach. It says revenue mobilization should be strengthened while limiting direct contact, through tools such as weighing scales and computerized, non-intrusive quality control mechanisms.
Alongside this equipment, the authorities said they also want to modernize information sharing by expanding automation and digitization, including the creation of a platform for sharing data within and between financial administrations.
The report says the integrated system should rely on key data, including trade flows, banking data and asset information, to improve cross-checking and control efficiency. As part of this effort to link systems, authorities also said they want to connect the tax administration database to the information system of the Directorate General of the Treasury and Public Accounting (DGTCP).
The IMF report presents these measures as a lever to modernize controls and improve their reliability under commitments made as part of the Fund-supported program.
Boaz Kabeya
