News (844)
Rawbank said on March 4, 2026 it has secured $265 million in financing to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) led the deal, with participation from Proparco, British International Investment (BII), the eco.business Fund and the OPEC Fund for International Development.
The financing aims to expand access to credit for SMEs, support private sector growth and create jobs in the country, Rawbank said. The IFC added that the program could provide financing to at least 1,500 additional SMEs over the next four years, particularly in sectors such as telecommunications and fast-moving consumer goods.
“This operation represents a strategic allocation of international capital to a local financial intermediary able to channel these resources into productive financing,” said Mustafa Rawji, chief executive of Rawbank. “Our goal is to finance more Congolese SMEs, strengthen local production and support sustainable job creation across the country.”
A two-part financing structure
The deal has two components. The first is a $165 million senior credit facility arranged by the IFC, including $50 million provided directly by the institution. The remaining $115 million was mobilized from financial partners: Proparco ($50 million), eco.business Fund ($20 million), the OPEC Fund ($20 million) and British International Investment ($25 million).
The second component is a $100 million risk-sharing agreement between the IFC and Rawbank. Under this arrangement, the IFC covers 50% of the exposure, equivalent to $50 million, allowing Rawbank to extend credit to a larger number of SMEs. The mechanism is supported by the European Commission and the International Development Association (IDA) through the Small Loan Guarantee Program.
In addition to financing, the IFC will provide advisory services to strengthen Rawbank’s capacity in several areas, including climate finance, agricultural financing and support for women entrepreneurs.
Additional support for SME financing
According to Rawbank, the deal is “the largest transaction ever arranged by the IFC for a financial institution in the DRC.”
The financing forms part of the bank’s broader strategy to expand access to credit for Congolese SMEs. Rawbank participates in the “20,000 SMEs” program, a $200 million initiative designed to help integrate local companies into the value chains of large firms operating in the DRC.
Under this program, Rawbank works with the Regulatory Authority for Subcontracting in the Private Sector (ARSP) and the Guarantee Fund for Entrepreneurship in Congo (FOGEC) to expand access to financing for local businesses.
Ronsard Luabeya
Protests by health workers in Gbadolite over unpaid wages and bonuses have drawn attention to the worsening financial situation at Afriland First Bank DRC, which has been under provisional administration since June 20, 2022.
Data from the Central Bank of the Congo (BCC) for December 2025 shows a sharp deterioration in the bank’s financial position. Afriland reported a negative net banking income (NBI) of $4.68 million, while the country’s banking sector generated $2.241 billion in positive NBI.
NBI reflects the core revenue generated by banking activity and is equivalent to turnover. It includes interest margins on loans, commissions and trading income.
“When it turns negative, it means the bank’s core activity no longer generates income,” a banker said.
In practice, the bank’s financial costs, mainly interest expenses on deposits, now exceed the revenue generated from lending and financial services.
At the end of 2025, Afriland held $124.9 million in customer deposits and $175 million in gross loans. However, a large share of these loans no longer produces income. Loans to private companies account for 70% of the portfolio, but performing loans total only $37.8 million, or 21.6% of outstanding credit.
As a result, the bank has set aside $131.9 million in provisions for non-performing loans.
Rising recapitalization needs
Afriland is also losing market share in payments to public sector employees, reducing commission income and further weakening NBI.
In 2025, the bank was accused of delays and irregularities in public salary payments. It subsequently lost the contract for paying teachers and school operating expenses in five regions to other financial institutions. The lost portfolio covered 29,513 employees, 2,039 schools and a monthly payment volume of about 12 billion Congolese francs.
Afriland ended 2025 with losses of $50.4 million and negative equity of $116.9 million. This situation significantly increases recapitalization needs. Banks operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been required to maintain a minimum capital of $50 million since January 2025.
As early as March 2022, the BCC estimated Afriland’s recapitalization needs at $90 million. The estimate was challenged by the majority shareholder, Afriland First Group (AFG), controlled by Cameroonian businessman Paul Kammogne Fokam. The group, which said it held 95.6% of the bank’s capital, argued the assessment was conducted while the bank was already under reinforced BCC supervision.
The central bank deployed a close monitoring team in August 2021 after a governance crisis triggered by the board chairman’s suspension of the chief executive. Before the crisis, the bank’s equity was $48.05 million.
AFG conditioned any recapitalization on a contradictory audit, a request the BCC reportedly rejected before placing Afriland First Bank RDC under provisional administration in June 2022. A seven-member team led by Mudiay Mpinga was appointed to manage the bank. Its mandate was to coordinate with stakeholders, resolve the crisis and prepare a recovery plan within 180 days.
Risk of AFG losing its stake
On Dec. 27, 2022, one week after the end of the first mandate, a new law governing credit institutions was enacted. On Jan. 20, 2023, the same team was reappointed with a new mandate, placing Afriland under a resolution regime.
Under Congolese law, resolution is the final stage of banking supervision. It applies when a bank’s financial condition threatens its solvency and the interests of depositors and creditors.
The mechanism allows authorities to restructure failing institutions quickly. However, by the end of 2025, the two key objectives, restoring profitability and solvency, had still not been achieved. Financial indicators suggest the bank’s situation has deteriorated since the crisis began in July 2021.
The law grants broad powers to the resolution commissioner, who can replace corporate bodies such as the general assembly, the board of directors and executive management. The commissioner may also decide on capital restructuring or asset sales.
Given the bank’s financial position, the risk that the historical majority shareholder could lose its stake appears high.
AFG has acknowledged the severity of the situation. In a statement issued on Feb. 12, 2026, following the protests by health workers in Gbadolite, the holding company said it had been “ousted” from the capital of Afriland First Bank RDC by the Congolese state and its central bank.
According to the group, arbitration proceedings have been filed with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) to challenge what it described as an “expropriation” and seek compensation.
Pierre Mukoko
Micropolis Robotics, a United Arab Emirates-based company specializing in autonomous ground platforms, said on Tuesday it had signed a development and multi-year distribution agreement with AfricAI to expand the deployment of its unmanned ground vehicles across Africa, with a particular focus on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to the statement, the program involves a total investment of $9.3 million over an estimated 18-month period. The funding will support the development of three models designed for specific applications: police and public security, agricultural operations, and border surveillance and control.
The platforms will be adapted to operational constraints common across several African environments, including mobility over difficult terrain, operation in high-heat conditions, and the need for long-range communications and AI-assisted surveillance capabilities.
The distribution agreement spans three years. Micropolis said AfricAI would manage the purchase, marketing and distribution of the vehicles through its subsidiary, AfricaAI Technology FZ LLC. The markets listed include the DRC, South Africa, Tanzania and member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The statement also said real-world pilot tests must be conducted at sites in Africa before any large-scale commercial deployment.
A separate communication released in late January 2026, attributed to AfricAI, also referred to a partnership aimed at deploying Micropolis robotic platforms across the African continent. As the two announcements appear to be distinct, the scope of exclusivity, whether continental or limited to specific markets, would depend on the contractual terms defined in each agreement.
At this stage, the published statements do not detail the financial conditions of the distribution agreement, such as purchase prices, volumes, delivery schedules or performance clauses. The specific sites selected for the African pilot projects were also not disclosed. In addition, the exact legal identity of the entity "AfricAI Limited" was not clarified in the March 3 announcement beyond the reference to its subsidiary, AfricaAI Technology FZ LLC.
Ronsard Luabeya
State Minister and Justice Minister Guillaume Ngefa Atondoko Andali has called on judicial authorities to ensure effective prosecution of offenses committed online.
In a statement dated March 3, 2026, the ministry said Congolese cyberspace is fully subject to national law and cannot be a lawless zone.
The document said the use of digital platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, X and WhatsApp must comply strictly with the laws of the Republic, particularly the Digital Code and the Penal Code.
While noting that freedom of expression, guaranteed by the Constitution, protects criticism and public debate, including when they are “lively or controversial,” the communiqué stressed that this freedom does not extend to acts that constitute criminal offenses or abuse the rights of others, threaten public order, or undermine human dignity.
The minister instructed prosecutors general at the courts of appeal, public prosecutors and senior auditors of military jurisdictions to ensure that digital offenses are effectively prosecuted. He said any action must be based on a clear legal foundation, be legally justified and remain strictly proportionate to the alleged facts. Measures taken must also respect the right to a fair trial and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s international human rights obligations.
The communiqué listed criminal offenses including defamation, spreading false information, harassment, threats, insults, incitement to hatred, and violations of privacy and human dignity.
It also said that, when legal requirements are met, authorities may order the removal, blocking or suspension of clearly illegal content. Such measures must remain subject to judicial oversight and must not infringe fundamental freedoms.
Judicial authorities were also urged to activate international cooperation mechanisms when alleged perpetrators are outside national territory, in accordance with conventions ratified by the DRC. They were further asked to ensure effective protection of victims by conducting investigations promptly, guaranteeing confidentiality where required and preventing further victimization.
The statement comes as President Félix Tshisekedi recently called for stronger oversight of social networks, including better public awareness of laws governing the digital space.
Boaz Kabeya
Agriculture Minister Muhindo Nzangi plans to appoint a new operator to restart activities at the Lubondai agricultural site in Dibaya territory, Kasai-Central. He announced the move on February 27, 2026, during a review of agricultural programs in the wider Kasai region. The restart will be phased, beginning with the assembly of processing units and the retrieval of tractors previously deployed to the site.
Operations were initially entrusted to Bio Agro Business (BAB). The company withdrew several months ago after both sides failed to meet contractual commitments. Equipment remains at the site, which the Ministry of Agriculture says it owns, having acquired it under the Voluntary Agricultural Program (PVA). The program aims to boost food production and strengthen food self-sufficiency through a partnership between the Congolese state, equipment supplier DEM, and site operator BAB.
The minister said the restart would also extend to the Nkuadi site in Kasai-Oriental and the Mongata site in Kwango, both previously managed by BAB. In Lubondai, authorities plan to bring back tractors left in Kananga and repair feeder roads to ease operations and transport of produce.
Local media report that implementation stalled after DEM failed to meet key contractual obligations, including completing storage warehouses and fully installing processing units such as dryers, silos, and flour mills. The facilities were financed through a $139 million supplier credit granted to the PVA.
Bio Agro Business said it had received no public funding to acquire equipment and could not operate the sites without completed infrastructure. Under the contract, the company was to manage sites once fully equipped. The state was responsible for delivering installations for the production and processing of corn, cassava, and rice, as well as providing technical support to local farmers.
The Voluntary Agricultural Program covers six pilot sites: Mongata (Kwango), Nkundi (Kongo-Central), Nkuadi (Kasai-Oriental), Sakadi (Haut-Lomami), Lubondai (Kasai-Central), and Ruzizi (South Kivu).
Ronsard Luabeya
The Democratic Republic of Congo faces a potential double supply shock in its beef market, following the suspension of livestock imports from South Africa and disruptions along the Kasumbalesa corridor, a key transit route between Zambia and southeastern Congo.
The Congolese Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock announced on Feb. 26, 2026, that it was suspending imports of cattle and other cloven-hoofed livestock, as well as certain related products, citing a resurgence of foot-and-mouth disease in South Africa. Import permits have been canceled or suspended, and veterinary checks tightened at border posts. The ministry said it is monitoring developments in South Africa.
At the same time, Zambia has begun exporting beef to the Congolese market. President Hakainde Hichilema announced the first shipment to the DRC on Oct. 14, 2025. According to the Daily Mail, the initial consignment, valued at $62,635, forms part of a national strategy to raise beef exports to $1 billion by 2030. The DRC and Angola have been identified as priority markets. Farmers are expected to receive about $4.5 per kilogram, with final market prices estimated at around $9 per kilogram.
To ensure exports meet health standards, the Zambian presidency said small-scale farmers have been integrated into a system aligned with export requirements. Cattle undergo at least one month of quarantine before being slaughtered in licensed abattoirs. The veterinary department certifies that animals are disease-free through Animal Disease-Free Compartments (ADFC), supported by accredited laboratories including the National Livestock Epidemiology and Information Centre (NALEIC), as well as private partners overseeing pre-export health surveillance.
However, the main transport route used for these shipments is currently disrupted. ZNBC reported that the first consignment, slaughtered in Kalomo in October 2025, was transported to the DRC via the Kasumbalesa border post. Traffic along this route has been affected since the night of Feb. 28, 2026, after the Kakoso bridge collapsed following heavy rains, according to the Road Development Agency. The agency said work is underway to build a temporary bypass and restore traffic.
Timothée Manoke
The U.S. Department of the Treasury on Monday imposed sanctions on the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and four senior military officials, accusing them of supporting the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The sanctions were announced by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) as part of U.S. measures targeting those Washington says are undermining peace and stability in eastern Congo.
The Treasury said the Rwandan army provides direct military, logistical and technological support to M23, a rebel group under U.S. sanctions since 2013 and also subject to United Nations sanctions. It said the support had enabled M23 offensives and helped the group consolidate control in several parts of eastern Congo, including Goma and Bukavu, as well as Rubaya, a strategic mining hub.
U.S. authorities cited the deployment of advanced military equipment, including GPS jamming systems, air defence equipment and drones, and said Rwandan troops were present on the ground.
The Treasury said the operations were linked to serious human rights abuses committed by M23, including summary executions and violence against civilians.
The sanctions come after the Dec. 4, 2025 signing in Washington of the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity between Congo and Rwanda under U.S. mediation. The United States views continued offensives as inconsistent with commitments made under that agreement, according to the Associated Press.
In addition to the RDF, the Treasury designated four senior officers: Vincent Nyakarundi, identified as army chief of staff; Ruki Karusisi, a major general; Mubarakh Muganga, chief of defence staff; and Stanislas Gashugi, described as a special forces commander.
Under the sanctions, all property and interests in property of the designated individuals and entities in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them, and entities owned 50% or more by designated persons are also subject to the measures.
The Treasury said financial institutions and other businesses, including non-U.S. entities, could face sanctions if they engage in or facilitate transactions that violate or evade the restrictions. It said the measures are intended to change behaviour and that removal from the sanctions list is possible if conditions are met.
Rwanda’s government condemned the sanctions as “unjust” and accused Washington of taking a biased view of the conflict.
Boaz Kabeya
The Congolese government has approved the launch of the Regional Program to Support Infrastructure Development and Transboundary Water Resources Management (PREDIRE) with the Central African Republic.
Rural Development Minister Grégoire Mutshail Mutomb announced the decision at the Council of Ministers on Feb. 27. The program was officially launched on Feb. 17 at a ceremony chaired by Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka.
Funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the project allocates $49.6 million to the Democratic Republic of Congo out of a total budget of $257 million for both countries. It will run for five years.
The program targets Nord-Ubangi, Sud-Ubangi and Mongala provinces in northwestern DRC. It aims to upgrade socio-economic infrastructure, strengthen community resilience and promote integrated water resource management in the Ubangi transboundary basin. About 500,000 rural households are expected to benefit. The minister urged local stakeholders to take ownership of the program during implementation.
The project includes construction of a water treatment plant in Gbadolite with a capacity of 2,000 cubic meters per hour, along with a supply and distribution network and related facilities to support REGIDESO. Solar-powered drinking water systems will be installed in several localities in Nord-Ubangi, including Mobaye Mbongo, Bige Nord, Fiwa, Kota-Koli, Yakoma, Abuzi and Wapinda. Additional infrastructure is planned in Mongala province.
The program also includes technical studies for transferring water from the Ubangi River to develop irrigated agricultural areas in the targeted provinces.
The AfDB began procurement procedures in February 2026 for works, equipment and consulting services required to implement the project’s components.
Ronsard Luabeya
The Central Bank of the Congo (BCC) and the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) signed a cooperation agreement on Feb. 28, 2026, in Kinshasa. The signing took place on the sidelines of the Central Africa sub-regional committee meetings of the Association of African Central Banks (AACB).
The agreement aims to “strengthen cooperation in banking regulation, payment systems, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing, cybersecurity, financial inclusion and monetary stability,” BEAC Governor Yvon Sana Bangui said.
BEAC is the common central bank for the six CEMAC countries: Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic and Chad. These countries share the Central African CFA franc. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) uses its own currency, the Congolese franc, and is not a member of this monetary union, but maintains significant trade and financial ties with several countries in the bloc.
“This protocol marks a further step toward deeper monetary and financial integration in the sub-region,” the BCC said, without providing details. Bilateral agreements of this kind typically shift cooperation from a continental coordination framework to more operational arrangements, such as designated contact points, structured information-sharing and technical projects that can be implemented more quickly.
On the prudential front, the text opens the door to greater information-sharing between supervisors and closer alignment of risk management practices. As international compliance standards tighten and correspondent banks increase scrutiny, such coordination could reduce the risk of regulatory fragmentation.
The payment systems component has strategic implications. In recent years, BEAC has been modernizing payment infrastructure within CEMAC. Closer cooperation with the BCC could eventually facilitate cross-border payment interoperability, as many transactions are still routed through correspondents outside the sub-region, often at high cost and with delays. For commercial banks exposed to DRC–CEMAC flows, more efficient regional clearing would improve cost and processing efficiency.
Common practice
Anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing are another key area. The DRC is among jurisdictions under increased monitoring by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), as is Cameroon in the Feb. 13, 2026 update. In this context, stronger information-sharing and alignment of practices could help reassure correspondent banks and investors, reducing the risk that transactions are delayed, rejected or made more expensive due to compliance concerns.
In cybersecurity, the cooperation comes as digital threats targeting financial infrastructure intensify. Harmonized standards, shared alerts and coordinated incident response are becoming core elements of financial stability.
Finally, the protocol refers to financial inclusion and monetary stability. In the DRC, where dollarization remains high and authorities are seeking to strengthen the use of the Congolese franc, exchanges with BEAC could help shape thinking on policy tools to modernize financial services and reinforce macro-financial stability.
Such memorandums of understanding are common across Africa. Central banks regularly use them to set out terms for technical cooperation and capacity-building. For now, the BCC-BEAC agreement remains a broad framework. Its impact will depend on how it is implemented, including the timeline, priority projects, monitoring mechanisms and measurable outcomes.
Pierre Mukoko
The National Rural and Peri-urban Electrification and Energy Services Agency (ANSER) announced on February 27, 2026, that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S.-based Cybastion Institute LLC. The agreement falls under the energy pillar of the strategic partnership between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United States.
Previously introduced in the DRC as a provider of digital and cybersecurity solutions, Cybastion is now taking on a different role. In a press release, the company is described as “an international firm specializing in the engineering and structuring of energy projects.” The agreement launches a strategic partnership to develop rural electrification projects in the DRC.
The memorandum sets out a framework for technical and operational cooperation covering project design, financial structuring, and implementation. The projects will focus on solar energy in rural and peri-urban areas. The agreement runs for an initial 24 months and may be renewed. Projects will be rolled out in successive phases, approved jointly by the two parties.
These phases will include technical, environmental and social studies, financing structuring, and preparation of execution contracts. The stated goal is to strengthen national power generation capacity and support socio-economic development in the targeted areas.
Under the partnership, Cybastion will conduct pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, develop fixed-price technical and commercial proposals, and help secure international financing. This may involve export credit agencies and leading international financial institutions.
ANSER will identify priority projects, coordinate with institutions, and facilitate the administrative procedures required to implement the investments.
The press release adds that the memorandum is a first step toward negotiating and concluding a financing agreement between a U.S. commercial bank and the DRC Ministry of Finance.
The move represents a significant shift for Cybastion in the DRC. The company is already active in the country through a five-year program with the Ministry of Youth to train 250,000 young people in digital skills, in partnership with Cisco. The program covers networking, cybersecurity, data science, programming, operating systems, technical English and entrepreneurship.
With the agreement signed with ANSER, Cybastion is broadening its footprint in the DRC to include energy infrastructure. It is positioning itself not as a power operator, but as a technical and financial structuring partner for rural electrification projects.
Ronsard Luabeya
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DR Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi has instructed the government to tighten regulation of social media platforms to curb abuses, according to a statement issued after a cabinet meeting.
The directive was announced at the 80th ordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Feb. 27 in Kinshasa.
Tshisekedi tasked the justice minister and the minister of digital economy with proposing and implementing measures to promote responsible and ethical use of social media, in consultation with relevant agencies.
The measures could include, if necessary, “proportionate restrictive measures in accordance with the law, while respecting fundamental freedoms,” according to cabinet minutes read by Digital Economy Minister Augustin Kibassa Maliba.
The move comes as internet and social media use continues to expand in the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to DataReportal, the number of internet users rose from 21.14 million in 2021 to 34.7 million at the start of 2026, an increase of 64.1%, bringing penetration to an estimated 30.5%. Over the same period, social media users increased from 4 million to 10.4 million.
Authorities say that, rather than serving exclusively positive purposes, social media platforms are increasingly being used to spread disinformation, fuel public disorder, promote hate speech, manipulate opinion and incite division, undermining national cohesion and social stability.
The decision also comes amid persistent security challenges in several provinces, with security issues among the most debated topics online.
Raise awareness and enforce the Digital Code
Central to the president’s message is the need to strengthen awareness and enforcement of the Digital Code, adopted to regulate the use of digital platforms in the country. Tshisekedi said the law already provides mechanisms to prevent, regulate and punish online abuses, but is not widely known or consistently enforced.
The communication and media minister has been tasked, in coordination with public and private operators, with running ongoing public awareness campaigns. Magistrates will also be targeted under the supervision of the Superior Council of the Judiciary to ensure consistent and deterrent enforcement.
Beyond regulation, the government is turning to education. The ministries of national and higher education have been instructed to gradually introduce modules on digital responsibility into school curricula. Training programs are also expected to address issues related to social media and artificial intelligence.
Relevant ministers must submit a detailed report every 15 days outlining actions taken, results achieved and any challenges encountered to allow for monitoring and evaluation. Details of how the measures will be implemented remain unclear.
Isaac K. Kassouwi, with Ecofin Agency
The Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo plan to develop the Pioka-Tombe cross-border hydropower project, with a planned capacity of 6,450 megawatts.
DRC Minister of Hydraulic Resources and Electricity Aimé Sakombi Molendo and his Congolese counterpart, Émile Ousso, signed a memorandum of understanding on Feb. 26, 2026, covering the development of the site in the Cataractes district of Kongo Central province.
On the DRC side, the project has backing at the highest level of government and has been designated a national priority. Authorities say it aims to harness the Congo River’s potential under a framework of balanced cost and benefit sharing, supporting the two countries’ energy, industrial and social development.
Implementation and preparatory studies
The project was discussed at a Council of Ministers meeting on Jan. 9, 2026. At the time, Sakombi said implementation would require updating existing studies, conducting topographic surveys, and carrying out pre-feasibility and feasibility assessments. The process will also include preparing a detailed preliminary design and establishing the institutional and financing framework.
The minister requested government approval to formally commit to the project’s development and secure the necessary authorizations. These include hiring a firm to update feasibility studies and mobilizing funding for the studies and the structuring of public-private partnerships.
According to Sakombi, the project could help secure electricity supply in Kinshasa, where the deficit exceeds 1,000 MW. It could also support industrial development in Kongo Central and in industrial zones connected to the Inga power network.
The initiative forms part of efforts to optimize the overall development plan for the Congo River and to prepare technically and strategically for the future development of Grand Inga, which could reach an installed capacity of 40 gigawatts.
Ronsard Luabeya
Democratic Republic of Congo Infrastructure and Public Works Minister John Banza Lunda is set to deploy about 1,000 units of equipment to support road construction and sanitation projects, his ministry said. The equipment was procured from China, Mauritius and South Africa.
The delivery forms part of a broader order of 5,600 units under a partnership agreement signed with South Africa’s Guma Group, aimed at modernising the country’s public works capacity.
During a visit to South Africa, Banza Lunda toured the port of Port Elizabeth and the Isuzu manufacturing plant to expedite shipments to the DRC. According to a ministry statement, the consignment includes 500 trucks and 500 civil engineering machines, such as dump trucks, towing vehicles, recovery trucks and mobile workshops.
The minister said the equipment has reached the port and shipments to Kinshasa are underway. Once operational, the machines are expected to accelerate infrastructure works across several provinces, particularly road rehabilitation, erosion control, drainage and sanitation projects.
Blue-painted equipment will be allocated to the Office of Roads and Drainage (OVD), while yellow units will go to the Office of Roads (OR). Both agencies are responsible for executing urban and peri-urban public works across the country.
The deployment follows an earlier shipment of 200 civil engineering machines ordered from China. In November 2025, Banza Lunda oversaw the delivery of that first batch to the DRC.
Ronsard Luabeya
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the United States signed a framework agreement on health cooperation on Feb. 26 in Kinshasa, laying the groundwork for a strengthened strategic partnership in public health for 2026-2030.
The programme is backed by $1.2 billion, including $900 million from the United States and $300 million to be phased in by the Congolese government. According to a government statement issued on Feb. 26, 2026, the goal is to strengthen the national health system sustainably and improve access to care.
The agreement includes expanded support for the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, as well as maternal and child health. It also includes strengthening epidemiological surveillance, improving preparedness and response to health emergencies, and bolstering the health system at national and local levels. Authorities said the partnership would focus on skills transfer, technical cooperation and institutional capacity building, in line with President Félix Tshisekedi’s emphasis on human capital development.
The deal comes amid major shifts and disruptions in U.S. funding, which has historically financed a large share of humanitarian and health programmes in the DRC. An analysis cited by the scientific journal The Lancet Oncology found that more than 70% of humanitarian activities in the DRC were funded by the United States in 2024, leaving the country highly exposed to funding cuts or freezes.
In the humanitarian sector, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said around 1.5 million people lost access to primary healthcare following reductions in operational capacity. These cuts led to the closure of health facilities, shortages of essential medicines and reduced capacity to prevent and respond to epidemics. The same source reported the closure of more than 1,000 nutrition centres, depriving over 390,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition of treatment.
Authorities have not yet detailed provisions related to data-sharing, regulatory requirements or phased national commitments under the partnership. Several African countries involved in similar agreements have recently raised concerns about such frameworks, citing what they describe as intrusive data-sharing provisions and stricter financial conditions.
Boaz Kabeya