The Kinshasa Kia Mona logistics hub, part of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s plan to expand its capital, has moved into the technical planning stage. The Strategic Committee for the Supervision of the Kinshasa City Expansion Project (CSSPEVK) announced on July 2, 2026, that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Belgium’s Port of Antwerp-Bruges International (Poabi) to support the development of the planned logistics hub in the municipality of Maluku.

The memorandum was signed by Thierry Katembwe Mbala, chief coordinator of the Kinshasa city expansion project, and Stefan Cassimon, director of Poabi. Luc De Clerck, chief executive of Belgian company Pampilie, which specializes in large-scale infrastructure projects, was also among the signatories. The statement does not clarify what role Pampilie will play in the project.

Studies to Begin

According to the CSSPEVK, the partnership is intended to establish the project’s technical, institutional and operational framework for a platform designed to support the economic development of the new city. Stefan Cassimon said Poabi would begin by developing a roadmap and conducting feasibility studies. The work is expected to cover governance, infrastructure, sustainability, environmental issues, digitalization and workforce development for the future port, logistics zone and related infrastructure.

Importantly, the agreement does not mark the start of construction. Instead, it provides a framework for assessing the project’s feasibility, governance model, infrastructure requirements and implementation conditions before development of the logistics hub begins.

For Thierry Katembwe Mbala, the signing follows nearly two years of discussions. The project’s chief coordinator described it as both the outcome of extensive preparatory work and the beginning of the implementation phase. He also said the objective is to develop Kinshasa Kia Mona in line with national urban planning standards under the supervision of the Ministry of Urban Planning and Housing.

Multimodal Hub

One of the few concrete details announced concerns the land allocated to the logistics hub. Of the 43,000 hectares planned for Kinshasa Kia Mona, 1,000 hectares have been earmarked for the facility under the urban development plan. The objective is to develop it into a logistics hub serving both the new city and the industrial zone planned for the same area.

According to the CSSPEVK, the logistics hub is intended to serve not only Kinshasa Kia Mona but also as a central hub for freight linked to the wider city of Kinshasa and, more broadly, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s logistics network.

The partnership with Port of Antwerp-Bruges International brings international port development expertise to the project. The Belgian company describes itself as the international arm of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, specializing in providing port advisory and management services worldwide. Its activities include technical consulting, port management, investment in selected projects and professional training for the sector.

On its website, Poabi says its services cover market analysis, gap assessments, strategic planning, port governance, hinterland connectivity, logistics platforms, sustainability and training. These areas closely align with the priorities outlined by Stefan Cassimon for the future logistics hub in Maluku.

The CSSPEVK said the partnership will also support the preparation of a master plan for the logistics hub and help develop a multimodal transport hub connected to the Congo River. The long-term objective is to equip Kinshasa Kia Mona with infrastructure capable of supporting trade, construction supply chains, industrial activity and freight movement.

Timothée Manoke