News (946)
The Democratic Republic of Congo is looking to leverage Côte d'Ivoire's expertise to accelerate the development of its cocoa sector and strengthen the organisation of its producers. The issue was a key focus of a meeting held on June 2 in Abidjan between Congolese Foreign Trade Minister Julien Paluku Kahongya and his Ivorian counterpart for Trade, Industry and Crafts, Ibrahim Kalil Konaté, on the sidelines of the signing of the International Cocoa Agreement.
According to the Congolese Ministry of Foreign Trade, Kinshasa hopes to benefit from Ivorian expertise in organising local cooperatives, particularly to strengthen the protection and support of cocoa farmers.
The world's largest cocoa producer, with nearly 2 million tonnes a year, Côte d'Ivoire serves as a benchmark for the DRC, whose cocoa sector remains largely underdeveloped despite significant potential across several provinces.
The two countries also stressed the need to process more cocoa locally to capture a greater share of the value generated by the industry. They said Africa should produce more chocolate, cocoa butter, cocoa powder and other value-added cocoa products instead of relying largely on exports of raw beans.
Local processing
Discussions also covered global cocoa price volatility and ways to better protect the incomes of African producers. Kinshasa and Abidjan said they intend to coordinate their positions in response to the growing use of cocoa substitutes by manufacturers, which they view as a threat to the sector.
The Congolese ministry also said both sides discussed the Inga project, describing it as a key source of reliable energy needed to support cocoa processing and other agricultural value chains.
The meeting comes as the DRC seeks to revive its own cocoa sector. In May, Julien Paluku presented an inter-ministerial plan aimed at organising smallholder farmers into cooperatives, strengthening local processing and providing financing for cocoa purchases during the marketing season through the Fund for the Promotion of Industry.
Through this strategy, Kinshasa aims to make the DRC one of the world's leading cocoa producers within five years. The government has set a target of 3 million tonnes by 2030, up from around 100,000 tonnes in 2024, according to data from the Ministry of Foreign Trade. Reaching that goal would require major investment in production, farmer support, logistics and processing capacity.
Ronsard Luabeya
The Democratic Republic of Congo signed three construction contracts worth a combined estimated $187 million on June 3 in Kinshasa for work on the Mbanga-Lualaba section of National Highway No. 2 (RN2).
The contracts cover the paving of 206 kilometres of road between Mbanga and the Lualaba River, as well as the construction of a 714-metre bridge. Infrastructure and Public Works Minister John Banza Lunda signed the agreements with three Chinese firms: China First Highway Engineering Company Limited, Sinohydro Bureau 14 and the China Jiangxi International Economic consortium.
The project is part of the World Bank-funded Transport and Connectivity Support Project (PACT) and marks a new phase in efforts to modernise RN2, which is intended to become a strategic corridor linking central and eastern DRC.
Two road sections
The 206 kilometres will be divided into two sections of roughly 100 kilometres each, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works. The work will complement 280 kilometres already under development between Mbuji-Mayi, Kabinda and Mbanga. With this new phase, the total length of upgraded road on the corridor is expected to reach approximately 480 kilometres.
The project calls for a dual two-lane carriageway, which the government says will be among the country's first highways built to modern standards. The infrastructure will also include provisions for the future deployment of fibre optic cable and electrical power transmission equipment.
One of the programme's major structures is a 714-metre bridge over the Lualaba River. The ministry said the crossing will also feature two lanes in each direction.
Road construction costs are estimated at approximately $150 million, with an execution period of 36 months. The bridge is valued at $37 million and is expected to be completed within 24 months.
Work set to begin in October
The ministry said the procurement process was conducted in accordance with World Bank requirements. Technical studies were launched at the start of 2025, ahead of an international competitive tender process and the evaluation of submitted bids.
Before construction begins, currently scheduled for October 2026, the companies will have a four-month mobilisation period to transport equipment and establish construction camps. The ministry also announced a technical planning meeting with stakeholders.
The corridor is ultimately intended to improve connectivity for the Kasai-Oriental, Lomami, Maniema and South Kivu provinces. It is also expected to boost the movement of people and goods between Mbuji-Mayi, Kabinda, Mbanga and communities beyond the Lualaba River.
The project confirms the phased approach to modernising RN2. The section now under contract covers the Mbanga-Lualaba stretch, while the continuation toward Penemwanga and then Bukavu is expected to be addressed in subsequent stages.
Boaz Kabeya
The Centre for Research on Public Finance and Local Development (CREFDL) has called for judicial scrutiny to be extended to all public contracts awarded by the Fund for Reparations and Compensation for Victims of Uganda's Illegal Activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (FRIVAO).
The call follows a directive issued on April 17, 2026, by the Justice Ministry instructing the Prosecutor General at the Court of Cassation to open an investigation into a contract awarded to the company DIVO SARL.
In a statement published on April 23, CREFDL estimated the value of public contracts it considers irregular at $34.6 million for the period from 2022 to 2025. According to the organization, those payments were made in violation of public procurement legislation and should be subject to judicial review.
The organization's call comes as Chançard Bolukola, who served as FRIVAO's national coordinator from August 2024 to July 2025, remains in custody following his arrest on July 25, 2025. He faces charges including the alleged misappropriation of funds earmarked for victim compensation and violations of public procurement law. CREFDL said the ongoing judicial proceedings are consistent with recommendations contained in a citizen-led investigation report published in September 2025.
According to that report, FRIVAO received nearly $195 million between 2022 and 2024, a portion of which was intended to compensate victims of the Kisangani war. CREFDL said, however, that only $2.08 million had actually been disbursed to victims as of October 8, 2024, representing less than 2% of the $105.1 million allocated for that purpose.
Contested payments
The April 23 statement listed several disputed payments, including $14.9 million to Congo Energy for the rehabilitation of the Tshopo power plant, $9 million to state utility SNEL for work on the Kisangani electricity network, $4 million to the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) for Kisangani's zoological and botanical garden, and $1.75 million to OVDA Tshopo for a peace stabilization project.
The DIVO SARL contract, which prompted the Justice Ministry's directive, also appears on CREFDL's list. The organization cited a $512,000 advance payment for the production of a documentary on GENOCOST, a campaign seeking recognition of mass killings and economic crimes committed in Congo. In its April 17 statement, the Justice Ministry pointed to strong presumptions of irregularities, including the disbursement of more than $1 million, the absence of compliant deliverables, and alleged violations of public financial management rules.
Writing from his cell at Makala central prison, Bolukola disputed claims that the documentary cost $1.6 million despite running only six minutes. In a handwritten letter dated April 19, 2026, relayed by Actualite.cd, he said the contract was worth $640,000 excluding taxes and that the film runs approximately one hour and 14 minutes. He rejected the accusations leveled against his management of the fund.
The conflicting accounts highlight key questions facing investigators, who will need to establish the amounts actually committed, the payments made, whether the deliverables complied with contractual requirements, and any potential liabilities arising from the management of funds intended for victims.
Boaz Kabeya
DR Congo's Ministry of Mines announced on June 2 the precautionary suspension of all mining activities in areas adjacent to Maiko National Park in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The decision followed inspections by technical teams from the ministries of Mines and Environment after the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) raised concerns in a letter to the authorities.
In that letter, the ICCN warned that two mining companies -Stone Mining SARLU and Xin Hong Kuang Ye SARL which hold exploration permits No. 16591 and No. 16594 respectively- had been operating near the boundaries of Maiko National Park.
According to the Ministry of Mines, consultations between the relevant government agencies identified several concerns. The two companies are suspected of using their exploration permits to carry out activities that effectively amount to mining, in violation of the Mining Code and Mining Regulations.
A mission announced
The authorities also raised the possibility of breaches of nature conservation laws, which prohibit activities incompatible with the protection of designated conservation areas. The ministry noted that the activities in question were taking place in environmentally sensitive zones near a national park.
The statement also cited the presence of unidentified armed individuals within the permit areas, adding a security dimension to a case already marked by environmental and mining concerns.
In response, the Ministry of Mines ordered a precautionary suspension of mining activities in the affected permit areas. According to the authorities, the measure is intended to safeguard natural resources and protected areas pending a more comprehensive assessment of the situation.
A joint mission involving officials from the ministries of Interior, Defence, Environment and Mines is expected to be deployed in the coming days. It will be tasked with assessing conditions on the ground and recommending appropriate measures.
Boaz Kabeya
Workers at Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM) launched a strike on June 1, 2026, threatening output at one of the Democratic Republic of Congo's largest copper and cobalt operations. The walkout centres on a new collective bargaining agreement signed between management and union representatives that workers say fails to meet their demands on pay and working conditions.
According to Radio Okapi, workers have continued their action in Lualaba province, arguing that the agreement does not adequately address their concerns. They have also criticised the negotiation process as insufficiently inclusive.
In a memorandum addressed to TFM's chief executive on June 2, 2026, strikers accused the union delegation of finalising revisions to the collective agreement without prior consultation with the broader workforce.
Key demands include a higher base salary, full payment of overtime hours and improved working conditions. Workers are also calling for a housing allowance equal to 30% of net pay, a school allowance of $85 per child, better healthcare coverage and an end-of-negotiation bonus of $1,500.
The strike has already disrupted operations. Several industrial machines have been idled, according to Radio Okapi. Local sources also report blockades on certain access roads to the mine, aimed at preventing employees willing to return from reaching their posts.
Strategic site
The dispute carries implications beyond the immediate labour conflict. TFM, a subsidiary of Chinese group CMOC, is one of the country's most strategically significant mining assets. According to 2025 mining statistics from the Technical Coordination and Mining Planning Unit (CTCPM), the company produced 509,352 tonnes of copper and 32,551 tonnes of cobalt in 2025.
Those volumes represent approximately 14.6% of national copper output and close to one-third of Congo's cobalt production, although the national cobalt figures published by the CTCPM differ from the consolidated data reported by CMOC for its overall DRC operations. According to the Chinese group's data, its DRC operations produced approximately 741,100 tonnes of copper and 117,500 tonnes of cobalt in 2025, generating revenue of 61.3 billion yuan, or about $8.6 billion, up 21.15% year on year.
Any prolonged disruption at TFM could therefore have significant effects on the country's mining output and on CMOC's performance in the DRC. So far, TFM's management has not issued a detailed public statement on the workers' demands, the precise impact on production or the conditions for resuming talks.
The ongoing strike leaves the company facing a dual challenge: containing operational disruptions at a major copper-cobalt site while reopening labour negotiations after a section of its workforce rejected the collective agreement.
Ronsard Luabeya
Baobab RDC, a microfinance institution operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, signed a memorandum of understanding with insurer Rawsur Life on May 26, 2026, to integrate death and permanent disability coverage into the loans it extends to clients.
The arrangement is designed to mitigate the financial impact of death or permanent disability on loan repayment. In the event of a borrower's death or permanent disability, the insurance can cover the outstanding loan balance, subject to the terms of the contract.
For Baobab RDC, the initiative serves a dual purpose: protecting families from being left with the borrower's debt in the event of a claim, and reducing the credit risk associated with its loan portfolio.
The partnership comes as the institution seeks tighter control over portfolio quality. In its Pillar III report for the first half of 2025, Baobab RDC identified credit risk as its primary risk exposure. The document also noted a rise in delinquent loans, with the share of the portfolio where repayments were more than 30 days overdue climbing from 5.7% at end-2024 to 11.82% at end-June 2025.
The integration of death and disability insurance is being presented as an additional tool to protect borrowers while strengthening loan security.
According to Baobab RDC Managing Director Sandrine Maïndombe, the new offering reflects the institution's commitment to supporting clients beyond providing credit. She said the insurance would strengthen protection for borrowers and their families against the financial consequences of death or permanent disability.
The coverage is available to individuals and businesses applying for a loan from Baobab RDC who meet the institution's eligibility criteria. It will be offered across all Baobab RDC branches in Kinshasa.
Growth in life insurance
The partnership also provides for swift claims processing. In the event of a borrower's death, the outstanding loan balance can be settled within three to ten days of submission of the required documents, including a death certificate. In cases of permanent disability certified by a physician or an accredited healthcare facility, the remaining debt will be covered in accordance with the terms of the insurance contract.
Rawsur Life Managing Director Hugues Toto said the collaboration is part of the insurer's strategy to develop tailored insurance solutions for financial institutions and their clients. He noted that this type of coverage has already been deployed with several microfinance institutions in the DRC for a number of years.
The partnership also reflects the gradual development of bancassurance and micro-insurance in the Congolese market. In a microfinance sector exposed to repayment defaults linked to borrowers' personal circumstances, the integration of insurance products serves both as a social protection mechanism and a risk-mitigation tool for lenders.
The Congolese life insurance market remains relatively small but is expanding. According to the 2024 annual report of the insurance regulatory authority ARCA, premiums written in the life segment totalled $35.09 million in 2024.
Within that segment, Rawsur Life has consolidated its position as market leader. Between 2022 and 2024, the company accounted for 61.85% of the life insurance market in the DRC. Over the same period, its revenue rose from $6.83 million to $21.70 million, one of the strongest growth rates recorded in the sector.
Ronsard Luabeya
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) launched a regional programme in Lusaka, Zambia, on June 2, 2026, aimed at developing responsible value chains for critical minerals used in the energy transition across the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The five-year project will be implemented in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique and South Africa. It seeks to expand local mineral processing, support new industries, increase the economic benefits retained within producing countries, and improve the management of the sector's environmental and social impacts.
Funded through the German government's International Climate Initiative (IKI), the programme has a budget of approximately 15.03 million euros. It comes as global demand for minerals used in batteries, electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies continues to rise.
According to a recent United Nations briefing to the Security Council, global demand for critical minerals could triple by 2030 and quadruple by 2040. Other international forecasts also point to strong growth in demand for minerals such as lithium, cobalt, graphite, copper, manganese and nickel, which are essential to the energy transition.
For the ECA, this trend offers African countries an opportunity to capture more value from their natural resources. The project aims to encourage local processing, expand industrial capacity, promote skills transfer, integrate small and medium-sized enterprises into supply chains, and increase participation by women and young people in emerging industries linked to the energy transition.
Local processing
Research by the International Energy Agency (IEA) on the development of African mining value chains suggests that, at current prices, the market value of African exports of copper, cobalt, phosphate, manganese, graphite and nickel could rise from around $70 billion today to nearly $120 billion by 2040 if refining and processing capacity is expanded on the continent.
Such growth would depend largely on African countries increasing the share of minerals processed domestically. Processing rates currently vary widely by mineral. The IEA estimates that about 62% of copper extracted in Africa is refined on the continent, compared with 33% of phosphate and only 3% of cobalt.
Under a higher-value processing scenario, the proportion of cobalt refined locally could increase, although it would remain lower than that of several other minerals. The market value generated from cobalt could also rise, provided producing countries continue to strengthen their industrial, energy and logistics capacity.
The DRC is central to this strategy. The country accounts for around 70% of global cobalt mine production and holds substantial copper reserves, making it a key supplier to battery manufacturing value chains.
ESG challenges
For Kinshasa and other countries in the region, the challenge is no longer limited to increasing mineral production. It is also about developing higher-value industrial activities linked to those resources. This approach is consistent with the African Union's Africa Mining Vision, which encourages member states to use mineral wealth as a driver of industrialisation, job creation and economic diversification.
The programme also places a strong focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. Partners plan to strengthen ESG frameworks to reduce the negative effects of mining activities on local communities and ecosystems.
Awareness campaigns, training programmes and consultations with civil society organisations, mining communities and local authorities are also planned. The aim is to ensure a more equitable distribution of mining benefits while supporting job creation, industrial development and stronger integration of local communities into mining value chains.
For the DRC, the regional initiative could provide additional support for its ambitions to expand domestic processing of critical minerals. Its impact, however, will depend on whether it succeeds in attracting investment, developing new industrial capacity and improving governance across mineral supply chains.
Timothée Manoke
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is seeking to strengthen its capacity to manage and use petroleum data, with support from Algeria. The objective forms part of a memorandum of understanding signed on May 30, 2026, in Algiers by Acacia Bandubola Mbongo, the DRC's minister of hydrocarbons, and Mohamed Arkab, Algeria's minister of energy and mines.
According to a statement from the Congolese Ministry of Hydrocarbons, the agreement is intended to deepen cooperation between the two countries in the hydrocarbons sector. Kinshasa aims to draw on Algeria's experience in developing a modern petroleum database that meets international standards.
For the DRC, improving the storage, management and use of industry data is a strategic priority. Reliable geological and petroleum information remains a key factor in attracting investment to the sector.
The agreement follows discussions that began several months ago. Congolese authorities said exchanges between the two countries started in November 2025 in Brazzaville on the sidelines of a meeting of the African Petroleum Producers' Organization (APPO), eventually leading to the signing of the agreement in Algiers.
Broader cooperation agenda
Beyond petroleum data management, the DRC has identified several areas for cooperation with Algeria. These include the marketing of oil blocks, efforts to attract investment, improved management of petroleum data, stronger oversight of the upstream sector and workforce training.
Kinshasa also wants to expand technical cooperation between the National Hydrocarbons Company of Congo (Sonahydroc) and Algeria's Sonatrach, one of Africa's largest oil and gas companies. The scope of the partnership, its implementation timetable and the projects involved have not yet been disclosed.
The initiative comes as the DRC continues efforts to reform its petroleum sector and improve its attractiveness to investors. In 2025, the government launched a review of the country's hydrocarbons law after identifying several barriers to investment, particularly following challenges encountered during the licensing round for 27 oil blocks launched in 2022.
Among the issues identified were a lack of recent geological data, the need to modernize technical documentation and the importance of improving the security of information provided to investors.
Against this backdrop, cooperation with Algeria could help the DRC better organize its petroleum data resources and strengthen the credibility of future licensing campaigns. The memorandum signed in Algiers nevertheless remains a framework agreement. Its impact will depend on how it is implemented, the resources allocated and the projects ultimately carried out by both parties.
Boaz Kabeya
The Democratic Republic of Congo plans to create Adex RDC SA, a joint venture aimed at strengthening the processing and international marketing of diamonds and colored gemstones, particularly those produced through artisanal mining. Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba presented the project to the Council of Ministers on May 29, 2026, and the government approved the initiative following deliberations.
According to the Council of Ministers' minutes, Adex RDC SA will be equally owned by the Mining Fund for Future Generations (FOMIN) and Adex Platform AG, with each partner holding a 50% stake.
The partnership is intended to modernize the Congolese diamond industry and help the country retain a larger share of the value generated by its mineral resources.
In his presentation to the government, the mines minister highlighted the Swiss partner's experience in the diamond sector. According to the minutes, Adex Platform AG is a consortium that includes companies and industry stakeholders involved with the World Diamond Council.
Local processing
The project aims to develop higher-value activities within the country, including the cutting, polishing and international marketing of diamonds and colored gemstones. Authorities expect this approach to increase revenues from the sector by reducing reliance on exports of rough stones.
According to estimates from the Center for Expertise, Evaluation and Certification (CEEC) cited in the government presentation, the artisanal mining deposits targeted by the project, which have been exploited since 1936, could sustain production for at least another 50 years.
The government also expects the venture to generate substantial revenue for the public treasury during its first five years of operation. However, the Council of Ministers' minutes do not specify the projected amounts or provide a timeline for the company's ramp-up.
Authorities estimate that the project could create between 30 and 40 direct jobs within Adex RDC SA, along with 120 to 150 indirect jobs. The initiative is also expected to facilitate the transfer of technology and expertise from Switzerland to the DRC.
For Kinshasa, the creation of Adex RDC SA could support the emergence of downstream industries linked to the diamond sector, including jewelry manufacturing and other value-added processing activities.
The government has yet to disclose details of the company's operating model, investment plans, launch timeline and the exact scope of its future activities.
Ronsard Luabeya
DR Congo's state water utility REGIDESO is moving forward with plans to build a bottled water production facility in Kinshasa. The company has published a tender notice to select a contractor for the industrial complex, as part of a broader effort to diversify its revenue streams.
According to documents reviewed by Bankable, the tender file bears an approval stamp from the Directorate General for Public Procurement Control (DGCMP), dated April 22, 2026. The notice for the construction of a turnkey industrial bottled drinking water complex in Kinshasa was subsequently published on May 28, 2026, on the portal of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARMP).
The document states that the contract is included in the supplementary procurement plan for works for fiscal year 2026, approved by the DGCMP on March 2, 2026, and published on the ARMP website on March 13, 2026.
Through this tender, REGIDESO is seeking a contractor capable of delivering a fully operational industrial complex. The selected firm will be responsible for designing the entire production process, from water intake through to bottling.
According to the tender notice, the selected contractor will also be required to supply equipment for water treatment and packaging, and to carry out the civil engineering works and associated infrastructure.
To allow prospective bidders to assess site conditions, REGIDESO has scheduled a mandatory site visit on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The meeting point is the commercial directorate of REGIDESO Kinshasa-Est, at the N'djili site.
Strict Criteria
Interested companies may obtain the full tender file from REGIDESO's Supply and Logistics Directorate. Procurement of the file requires a non-refundable payment of $500.
Bids must be submitted no later than Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Kinshasa local time, and must be accompanied by a bank guarantee equivalent to at least 2% of the submitted bid amount. Bids will be opened the same day at 2:30 p.m.
The state utility has set several qualification criteria. On the administrative side, bidders must provide documents attesting to their legal existence, including notarized articles of association, incorporation documents or their equivalent. They must also provide their registration certificate with the RCCM (Trade and Personal Property Credit Register), a national identification number, a valid tax clearance certificate and a certificate confirming compliance with social security contribution obligations.
On the financial side, REGIDESO requires certified financial statements for fiscal years 2023, 2024 and 2025. Companies must also demonstrate that their average annual turnover over the past three years is at least equal to the value of their submitted bid.
Technical qualifications will also play a key role in the evaluation. Candidates must provide documentary evidence of having successfully completed, within the past 10 years, at least three projects of comparable scale involving the design and construction of industrial drinking water bottling facilities.
They must also provide certificates of origin for the proposed equipment, along with proof that the relevant manufacturers comply with applicable standards, including ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 22000.
The estimated contract value, planned production capacity and commissioning schedule for the future plant are not specified in the tender notice reviewed.
Timothée Manoke
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DR Congo's Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba has given Valornet, a subsidiary of South African group Syntell, 72 hours to transfer control of the national vehicle identification platform (INV) to the state. The ultimatum was contained in a letter dated May 25, 2026, revealed by Africa Intelligence.
Should the company fail to comply, the minister said he reserves the right to take measures to protect the state's interests. Options mentioned include suspending payments owed to the company, opening proceedings for embezzlement of public funds and breach of trust, and seeking reimbursement of certain fees already collected.
As the deadline passed, Bankable was unable to confirm whether Valornet had complied with the government's demand.
The company maintains that its contract with the Congolese state expressly stipulates that software and source code developed under the project remain the property of the service provider. The government contests that interpretation, citing digital sovereignty and national security concerns to justify its bid to regain control of the infrastructure.
The INV platform now centralizes the entire vehicle registration process in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It stores data on vehicles and their owners, as well as payment systems and revenue-sharing mechanisms among the various parties involved in the registration process. These elements are considered essential to the government's planned rollout of automated camera-based traffic enforcement.
A project launched in 2016
The dispute has its roots in August 2016, when the Congolese government signed a partnership agreement with South African company Syntell to modernize traffic management in Kinshasa.
The project called for the installation of traffic lights, cameras and radar systems at 36 intersections in the capital to ease traffic flow and improve road safety. Authorities also sought to increase traffic-related revenue by digitizing the processing of traffic violations and fines.
Before any equipment was deployed, Syntell was required to build a national database covering all vehicles and their owners. That step was considered indispensable for identifying motorists and enabling the future automation of traffic violation processing.
The overall cost of the project was estimated at $10 million, to be entirely pre-financed by the South African company, which planned to recoup its investment through revenue generated by traffic fines.
Years after its launch, however, the project was never fully implemented. Because the automated fines system never generated revenue, the executing company Valornet was instead paid for each pair of license plates sold.
The partnership with Syntell was nonetheless extended in 2021 for a period of five years. According to Africa Intelligence, the Finance Ministry is now refusing a further extension of the contract, which expires in August 2026. The state clearly intends to take back ownership of the project.
Change of supplier
The government's investment plan also includes the acquisition of a road surveillance and license plate recognition system, at an estimated total cost of nearly $2 million, spread across 2026 and 2027.
The government has also changed its license plate supplier. A contract previously held by Utsch Congo was awarded in July 2025 to Castillo Valere. The Belgian company is responsible for manufacturing and supplying the new license plates.
The new plates incorporate a QR code presented as a security and traceability feature. The innovation is intended to enable more reliable vehicle identification, a condition considered essential for the deployment of automated camera surveillance systems.
That change also appears to have affected the contractual relationship between the state and Syntell. According to Africa Intelligence, since November 2025, Valornet's fee, previously set at $20 per pair of plates sold, has been cut in half. The amounts deducted are now redistributed to a committee responsible for overseeing the execution of the contract with Castillo Valere.
Beyond the commercial dispute, the case highlights a broader issue: the state's dependence on digital infrastructure developed by private contractors. In the context of automated traffic enforcement, control over software, source code and vehicle registration data has become a central issue for public service continuity, digital sovereignty and government revenue collection.
Timothée Manoke
The release of $50 million earmarked for the revival of Société Minière de Bakwanga (MIBA) remains contingent on the completion of several preconditions, including a comprehensive audit of the company. Jean-Charles Okoto, chairman of the company's board of directors, made the statement in an interview with local media.
He said the requirement comes from MIBA's shareholders, namely the Congolese state, which holds an 80% stake, and ASA Resources Group, the minority shareholder with a 20% interest.
The process includes a general audit of the company, an inventory of its assets and the validation of the minimum recovery plan before it can be implemented.
Valued at approximately $70 million, the plan targets production of nearly 2.5 million carats in 2026. It is structured around five priority areas: the certification of mineral reserves, the securing of mining concessions, productive investments, the management of personnel costs, and the establishment of a monitoring and evaluation framework alongside other strategic investments.
Okoto said the announced funding is already in place. "The $50 million has been secured and is available for MIBA. There are also, according to the latest information, an additional $20 million available, bringing the total funding package to more than $70 million to cover the budget of the minimum recovery plan currently under validation," he said.
The board chairman also indicated that the minority shareholder would need to mobilize additional resources to support the process. Based on its 20% stake, ASA Resources could be called upon to contribute approximately $12.5 million should the shareholders seek to maintain the current capital structure.
The statements come as MIBA's management has already taken steps toward restarting operations. In early May, Director General André Kabanda Kana made a provisional award to South African firm Bond Equipment (PTY) LTD for a contract covering the supply of industrial equipment for MIBA's operations in Mbuji-Mayi, following a call for tenders.
The total value of the contract stands at $57.45 million, inclusive of taxes, divided into five lots, with approximately $2.3 million in additional transport costs. The technical specifications of the equipment were not detailed in the notice reviewed.
At this stage, available documents do not establish whether the contract will be financed directly from the $50 million allocated to the revival effort. The validation of the minimum recovery plan, the general audit and the asset inventory therefore remain key steps before the funds can be disbursed.
Ronsard Luabeya
Conseil congolais de la batterie (CCB) and Standard Bank DRC signed a memorandum of understanding in Kinshasa on May 28 to support the structuring of finance-ready industrial projects across the battery value chain. The signing ceremony was attended by Industry Minister Justin Kalumba.
According to the CCB, the agreement is designed to align national industrial priorities with the requirements needed to secure financing. It is intended to support the development of projects linked to battery manufacturing and the processing of strategic minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Under the agreement, the CCB will continue to identify, qualify and align industrial projects, while Standard Bank DRC will contribute its expertise in financial structuring and capital mobilization.
The two partners aim to help develop projects that meet investor requirements in a sector where demand for capital, technical expertise and financial credibility remains high.
Standard Bank DRC Chief Executive Marie-Gabrielle Opese said the agreement reflects a shared commitment to supporting the CCB's vision of positioning the DRC within the global battery value chain.
Projects Still to Be Defined
"We are convinced that adding value locally, industrialization and integration into global value chains are essential drivers of sustainable and inclusive growth," she said.
According to the CCB, the signing marks a new step in the DRC's efforts to strengthen its position in industries linked to the global energy transition.
Industry Minister Kalumba said the local processing of strategic minerals could help accelerate the country's industrial development while generating new resources to support other sectors of the national economy.
At this stage, the memorandum does not specify which projects are involved, the amounts to be mobilized or a timeline for implementation. It primarily establishes a framework for collaboration between the CCB and Standard Bank DRC to prepare projects capable of attracting financing.
Ronsard Luabeya
Canada has suspended entry for foreign nationals traveling from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda and South Sudan as part of new measures aimed at containing the spread of Ebola.
The restrictions apply to temporary resident visas, electronic travel authorizations (eTAs), and certain permanent resident visas that had already been approved. Residents of the three countries holding these documents will not be allowed to travel to Canada while the measures remain in effect.
Ottawa also said it would temporarily suspend the processing of some new immigration applications submitted by residents of the affected countries.
Canadian citizens, permanent residents and individuals registered under the Indian Act will still be allowed to enter the country, including those who recently traveled to the affected regions.
Starting May 30 at 11:59 p.m., asymptomatic travelers arriving from the three countries will be required to complete a 21-day quarantine. Travelers showing symptoms will be transferred to hospital facilities for further medical assessment under Canada’s Quarantine Act.
Authorities said foreign nationals already in Canada will not be affected by the new measures and may continue to stay in the country under the existing conditions of their permits or visas.
International response
The move comes as countries tighten health controls in response to the Ebola outbreak. The United States has already imposed entry restrictions on non-U.S. citizens who recently visited the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan. Uganda has also introduced restrictions on passenger travel to and from the DRC, although cargo shipments and essential supplies continue to move freely.
According to data released in late May by Congolese health authorities, the DRC had recorded 121 confirmed Ebola cases, including 17 deaths. Authorities also reported more than 1,077 suspected cases and 238 suspected deaths. At the time, the outbreak had spread across 13 health zones in the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.
Ronsard Luabeya