The Regional Maritime Development Bank (RMDB) is set to launch its operations in the first quarter of 2026. Paul Adalikwu, Secretary General of the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), announced this on July 23, 2025, after a working session with Jean-Pierre Bemba, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport. Maritime experts from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire also attended the meeting.

MOWCA member states are driving the RMDB project, which aims to support the maritime sector's development in West and Central Africa. Adalikwu stated that this regional financial institution will fund projects related to port infrastructure, maritime fleets, logistics, and professional training in the sector. The bank expects to offer preferential, single-digit interest rate loans, providing financing opportunities to member countries, particularly the DRC.

Despite significant hydrographic potential, including the Congo River, its tributaries, and several navigable lakes, the DRC struggles to fully use this river network for transport and fishing. This lag is primarily due to a lack of suitable infrastructure, no safe navigation vessels, and a shortage of modern ports.

Underutilized Sector

The government is considering banning "baleinières," flat-bottom wooden boats capable of carrying up to 140 tons of goods and dozens of passengers, due to a rising number of nautical accidents. Over 200 deaths linked to shipwrecks have been reported since January 2025. The Ministry of Transport recommends introducing boats that comply with technical standards, which requires better access to financing for shipyards.

Furthermore, the government's 2024-2028 action plan includes building 400 modular ports to facilitate the evacuation of agricultural products from rural areas. However, budget constraints currently hinder this project.

In this context, the RMDB emerges as a strategic financing tool to modernize the fleet and secure river transport.

While the official launch is set for 2026, some preparatory actions are already underway. Nigeria, the host country for the institution with headquarters in Abuja, appointed Adeniran Aderogba as the RMDB CEO last May. In June, the bank announced the upcoming finalization of a $150 million financing package for a strategic shipyard in Nigeria. This aims to improve the sub region’s ship repair and maintenance capacity.

Finally, during a bilateral meeting in July 2024 between the Congolese Minister of Transport and the MOWCA Secretary General, Congolese authorities were invited to appoint a representative to the RMDB’s board of directors to represent the DRC.

Timothée Manoke (Intern)