French public port authority Haropa Port has signaled interest in providing technical assistance for the development of river transport along the Kisangani-Kinshasa corridor in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The possibility was discussed during a meeting held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, when Vice Prime Minister and Transport Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba received French Ambassador to the DRC Rémi Maréchaux. Representatives from the French Development Agency (AFD) and Haropa Port also attended.

Haropa Port is a French public institution and the largest river-maritime port complex on the Seine axis, bringing together the ports of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris. It is France’s leading port and the fourth-largest in northern Europe by tonnage, with global maritime connections. The group serves a hinterland including the Seine Valley and the greater Paris region, representing a market of about 25 million people.

Internationally, Haropa Port develops partnerships focused primarily on technical cooperation and sharing port and logistics expertise. In Africa, the group has established collaborations with the Autonomous Port of Pointe-Noire in Congo and the Port of Kribi in Cameroon. These partnerships aim to improve port performance, digitalize operations and develop integrated logistics solutions.

In the case of the DRC, discussions are still at an early stage. Haropa Port’s interest is limited to technical support, and no concrete project or formal commitment has been announced.

Boaz Kabeya