A technical mission from the Sino-Congolese Infrastructure Company (SISC S.A.), which is implementing a Sicomines-funded program under the mines-for-infrastructure deal, is expected to visit Tshikapa, in Kasai province, in May 2026 to prepare for the rehabilitation of the local airport.

The announcement followed an April 27 meeting in Kinshasa between Governor Crispin Mukendi Bukasa and company officials, local media reported.

The mission will conduct preparatory work, including a site assessment, ahead of a possible launch of modernization works at the facility. Discussions focused on technical and organizational aspects of the project.

The start of construction depends on resolving several administrative issues, particularly those linked to a previously awarded contract, which must be clarified before work can begin.

Tshikapa airport has been closed since Nov. 22, 2025, after heavy rains rendered its runway unusable. Provincial authorities said its condition no longer allowed aircraft to land.

The governor of Kasai also referred to a rehabilitation project announced about a year ago, noting that a $400,000 pre-financing arrangement had not led to any work.

Tshikapa airport is among the infrastructure projects included in the Sino-Congolese program, though financing and implementation details are still being finalized. In 2025, discussions focused on the financial guarantees required for the project. The Agency for Steering, Coordination and Monitoring of Collaboration Agreements (APCSC) had sought support from a bank to help structure the financing.

Boaz Kabeya