The Democratic Republic of Congo and Egypt signed a memorandum of understanding on urban development during Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi's official visit to Cairo on June 10, 2026, adding momentum to a series of Egyptian-backed infrastructure and city-building projects in the DRC.

The agreement was one of four signed following talks between Tshisekedi and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi. The two leaders identified urban development as a priority area for cooperation, alongside transport, the environment, health, tourism, investment and infrastructure.

The deal comes as the DRC looks for partners to support major urban development projects amid rapid population growth and mounting pressure on cities such as Kinshasa.

A day before Tshisekedi's arrival in Cairo, the Strategic Committee for the Supervision of the Kinshasa Expansion Project signed two agreements with Arab Contractors, one of Egypt's largest construction and infrastructure companies.

The first covers the construction of a National Museum of Renaissance, a cultural institution intended to showcase the history, identity and heritage of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project brings together Arab Contractors, the National Museum of Kinshasa and the committee responsible for overseeing the capital's expansion plans.

River Transport Link

The second agreement relates to a river transport system connecting central Kinshasa to Maluku, an area earmarked for future urban development on the eastern edge of the capital.

The project includes the construction of a modern shipyard, passenger terminals and docking facilities, as well as the supply of river buses. Its aim is to establish a fast and sustainable transport connection between Kinshasa and the planned Kinshasa Kia Mona development area.

Project officials view the transport link as a critical part of the broader expansion strategy, arguing that the success of the new urban zone will depend on reliable connections to the capital's existing economic and administrative center.

Egypt's involvement in Congolese urban development extends beyond Kinshasa. In July 2025, the government of Tanganyika Province signed a memorandum of understanding with Elahramat Engineering, an Egyptian company affiliated with Mahmoud Samih Holding.

New City Planned for Kalemie

The agreement provides a basis for cooperation on infrastructure projects across the province, including plans for a new city in Kalemie. Local authorities have presented the project as a response to rapid urban growth and the recurring floods that affect the provincial capital.

None of the agreements signed so far amount to final construction contracts. Authorities have yet to disclose budgets, financing arrangements or implementation timelines for the projects.

At this stage, the agreements are intended to attract partners, refine project plans and prepare the initiatives for financing and execution.

Arab Contractors is already familiar with the Congolese market. The company has participated in several infrastructure projects in the country, including road works in the Kasai region and on the Kamwesha-Kananga corridor.

Mahmoud Samih Holding has also been cited by Tanganyika provincial authorities as a contributor to parts of Egypt's New Administrative Capital, one of the country's flagship urban development projects.

For the DRC, the growing partnership with Egypt offers access to experience in urban planning, infrastructure delivery and the development of new cities. Whether that cooperation produces tangible results, however, will depend on how quickly these agreements are converted into funded and executed projects.

Boaz Kabeya