• Heineken loses control of Goma and Bukavu sites due to armed occupation
• Bralima evacuates staff from eastern DR Congo as security crisis worsens
• The shutdown affects nearly one-third of Heineken’s revenue in the country

Heineken’s Congolese subsidiary, Bralima, has confirmed the shutdown of its operations in Goma and Bukavu, two major cities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), following the occupation of its sites by armed groups.

The company announced the move on June 20, 2025, after losing operational control of its facilities, which have been targeted amid escalating violence in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Armed groups, including M23 rebels, have carried out large-scale offensives in the region for several months.

Bralima had already suspended its activities in Goma, Bukavu, and Uvira back in March after warehouses were looted and raided. As the security situation deteriorated further, the company evacuated all remaining staff from its eastern operations, affecting around 1,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Internal company data shows that the Goma, Bukavu, and Uvira sites account for nearly one-third of Bralima’s revenue in DR Congo, a country where Heineken has operated since the 1920s and runs five breweries nationwide.

The company’s withdrawal comes as international efforts intensify to restore stability in the region. On June 18, DR Congo and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in Washington, brokered by the United States. The deal includes commitments to respect territorial integrity and end hostilities in eastern DR Congo.

However, it remains unclear whether this diplomatic push will bring quick improvements on the ground in Goma and Bukavu, conditions necessary for Bralima to consider restarting operations.

Heineken’s exit from eastern DR Congo adds more strain to the country’s struggling beer market. In 2023, DR Congo produced 520 million liters of beer, a 6 % increase from 2022, yet still short of meeting growing demand. Per capita beer consumption reached 4.96 liters in 2021 and has been rising nearly 6 % annually.

The Congolese beer market holds strong potential, but ongoing instability in the east continues to undermine its growth.