The Democratic Republic of Congo is nearing a $456 million disbursement from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under its three-year economic and financial program.

The amount includes $268 million from the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and $188 million from the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), according to a source familiar with the matter.

Following a mission from Oct. 22 to Nov. 5, 2025, IMF staff and Congolese authorities reached a staff-level agreement on the second review of the ECF and the first review of the RSF, the IMF said in a statement. The agreement marks a key step toward releasing the funds.

The next stages involve review by the IMF’s Management and approval by its Executive Board, scheduled to meet in December 2025. A favorable decision, which typically follows such agreements, would trigger the immediate disbursement.

Unlike previous tranches, most of the upcoming funds will be allocated as budget support, transferred directly to the Treasury to support the national budget. An IMF official said $188 million from the RSF and $189 million from the ECF will go toward budget support, totaling $377 million.

The remaining $79 million will be credited to the Central Bank of Congo’s account at the Bank for International Settlements to strengthen the country’s foreign reserves.

The IMF noted that the DRC’s external stability has improved, driven by growing reserves and a narrower current account deficit, though reserves remain below the recommended adequacy level. Persistent insecurity in the eastern provinces and recurring health crises, such as Ebola outbreaks, continue to strain public finances.

For 2026, the DRC projects a budget of 59.02 trillion Congolese francs ($20.3 billion) based on the average exchange rate used for fiscal assumptions. Defense spending will represent nearly 15% of the total, or 7.93 trillion francs ($2.7 billion). The overall budget is up 16.4% from the revised 2025 finance law. To help fund it, the government is relying on external budget support, projected to rise 28.1% to 3.80 trillion francs ($1.3 billion).

Pierre Mukoko

The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ministry of Mines revoked the mining rights of seven companies in late October 2025 as part of its policy to enforce stricter compliance in the sector. The revocations were issued for failure to pay annual surface rights fees.

According to a list published by the Mining Cadastre (CAMI) on Nov. 3, Geocore was the most affected entity, losing two separate mining titles. One of the titles, granted in 2021, covered five mining squares in the Nyunzu and Kongolo territories of Tanganyika province, authorizing the company to conduct exploration and prospecting for gold, cassiterite, coltan, and wolframite.

Another notable firm was Regal Maniema, which had its Research Permit No. 3279 revoked. The company had previously faced the threat of forfeiture for the same reason, following a similar procedure initiated in 2021 over unpaid fees for the 2019 financial year.

These forfeiture decisions are based on Article 289 of the DRC's 2018 Revised Mining Code. The code allows affected companies to appeal the decision before competent authorities within 30 days of notification and publication. If no appeal is filed, the forfeiture is formally registered with the Mining Cadastre and published in the official gazette.

Under the Mining Code, the payment of surface rights is the second main condition for maintaining the validity of a mining title, after providing proof of the effective start of exploration or exploitation work. These rights are due annually, calculated based on the perimeter area and the permit’s validity period. The fees range from $0.03 to $1.14 per hectare, payable in Congolese francs at the current exchange rate.

Timothée Manoke 

The Congolese Agency for Major Works (ACGT) says it remains on track to complete the 3,300-kilometer Sakania-Banana road corridor by the end of 2027.

The project will fully pave National Road No. 1, linking the Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern border to its Atlantic coast. According to ACGT Director General Nico Nzau Nzau, 850 kilometers still need to be paved.

Nzau Nzau told state-owned Radio Okapi on November 4 that the route is already laid out and passable, but the remaining 850-kilometer stretch between Mbuji-Mayi and Nguba requires final paving, which is now underway.

He said current works focus on clearing and opening the roadbed to allow traffic between Mbuji-Mayi and Nguba. Asphalt laying has begun on the Mbuji-Mayi-Mediito and Nguba-Lobudi segments. About 20% of the overall work was completed during the first year, a phase largely dedicated to site mobilization and setup.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $900 million to $1 billion, financed under the Sino-Congolese cooperation program. It is being carried out in partnership with Chinese contractors and supervised by several national and international inspection firms to ensure technical compliance and transparency.

Nzau Nzau cited logistical challenges as the main obstacle. The landlocked central region, particularly the Kasaï area, makes the delivery of heavy equipment difficult. Companies operating at the corridor’s ends benefit from easier access: through Matadi in the west and via Mombasa and Dar es Salaam in the east. This explains why central sections are progressing more slowly. He nonetheless affirmed that the entire corridor will be completed within the next two years.

Once fully paved, the Sakania-to-Banana journey, spanning the length of the DRC, will take roughly four days without crossing foreign territory. The corridor is expected to cut logistics costs, lower transport prices, and boost economic activity, contributing to long-term regional development. Maintenance of completed sections will be handled by the Road Office and the National Road Maintenance Fund.

Boaz Kabeya

Excerpts from a contract signed between the Congolese government—through the Ministries of Interior and Transport—and U.S. company Securiport for an integrated border and immigration security system have circulated on social media since November 3, 2025, sparking widespread controversy. At the center of the debate is Article 38, which concerns the partner’s remuneration.

The article stipulates a $30 security fee to be charged to every air passenger, both on arrival and departure, at all international airports in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Many online users interpreted this as the introduction of a new airport tax, in a context where the public has long demanded the removal of existing levies such as the GoPass, currently set at $50 for international flights and $15 for domestic ones.

However, according to a senior official at the Ministry of Interior quoted by several media outlets, the security fee already exists. It is included in airline ticket prices for international flights to and from the DRC and collected by IATA-affiliated airlines. These revenues, previously allocated to several public agencies including the Directorate General of Migration (DGM), have been partly redirected to finance the Securiport LLC contract, the source said.

This version was confirmed by multiple airlines, which stated they already pay a boarding and security fee to Congolese authorities. In their fare breakdowns, Qatar Airways, Uganda Airlines, and Kenya Airways list a $43.75 charge, while Ethiopian Airlines shows $58 and Air France up to $66.

Fund management mechanism

According to the contract, the $30 security fee will now be paid monthly into a joint account managed by the government and Securiport. The document specifies that an irrevocable monthly transfer order will allocate 85% of the collected funds to Securiport—to recover its investment—and 15% to the Congolese state.

The agreement is structured as a Build–Train–Maintain–Transfer (BTMT) public-private partnership. It involves the deployment of an integrated border and immigration management system, including the installation of technological equipment, centralization of migration data, and digital management of passenger flows at airports, land borders, and seaports.

Securiport is responsible for financing, designing, installing, and maintaining the system while training officials from the two ministries. At the end of the contract—whose duration is not specified in the available excerpts—ownership of all infrastructure, equipment, and software will transfer to the Congolese government.

According to authorities, the project aims to strengthen national security in response to rising transnational threats such as document forgery, identity fraud, infiltration by radicalized individuals, and other cross-border criminal activities. It is intended as part of broader efforts to enhance airport and border security across the country.

Based in Virginia, the United States, Securiport specializes in immigration control and civil aviation security and already operates in Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and The Gambia, where it provides similar services. In these countries, the security fee ranges between $20 and $25; in The Gambia, for example, 25% of the collected amounts go to the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

No official statement has yet clarified how Securiport was selected. According to a source close to the executive, the process began about a decade ago, and the company was chosen following a competitive tender.

As of now, the government has issued no official communication on the matter, leaving questions unanswered and public concerns unresolved.