Ted Beleshayi Kasanda has been appointed director general of the Regulatory Authority for Subcontracting in the Private Sector (ARSP) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The appointment was announced through presidential decrees read on national television on June 3, 2026.

He succeeds Miguel Kashal Katemb, who was appointed director general of the ARSP in November 2022.

The leadership change comes as the DRC steps up oversight of subcontracting agreements. In recent months, the ARSP has issued a series of decisions ordering the cancellation, amendment or compliance review of contracts deemed irregular.

Between February and April 2026, more than 450 subcontracting contracts involving companies including Kibali Gold Mine, Matadi Gateway Terminal, CILU, CICO, PPC Barnet and CIMKO were subject to ARSP rulings. The agency also announced further audits.

Contract values decline

The regulatory pressure comes as the volume of reported contracts slows. According to ARSP statistics covering the 2023-2025 period, the total value of contracts reported by main contractors fell from $2.456 billion in 2024 to $1.713 billion in 2025, a decline of about 30.2%.

The ARSP estimates the potential value of the Congolese subcontracting market at more than $8.5 billion. Yet reported contracts remain heavily concentrated in the mining sector, which accounts for more than 90% of the total.

The concentration underscores the challenge of expanding subcontracting activity beyond mining, despite the ARSP's efforts to promote local participation, strengthen contractor certification and crack down on shell companies.

Professional background

A certified accountant and independent consultant, Ted Beleshayi Kasanda has worked since December 2020 at BelkasGroup SAS in Kinshasa, specializing in audit, management control, advisory services, accounting and taxation.

His career also includes nearly a decade at KPMG, where he worked on financial audits, statutory audits and advisory assignments for companies across a range of sectors.

He takes charge of the agency as it seeks to strengthen enforcement and expand subcontracting opportunities beyond the mining sector, which continues to dominate the market.

Ronsard Luabeya