News (482)
Highlights
• Kim Engineering launches the Kim-Box, a smart electrical meter built in the DRC.
• The device allows real-time monitoring of power use and protects against surges and short circuits.
• CEO Prisca Makila Biakong leads the project, hailed as a milestone for youth and women in tech.
On September 19, 2025, Congolese company Kim Engineering unveiled the Kim-Box, a smart electrical meter designed and manufactured locally. The device is pitched as a tool to help households and businesses better control and secure their electricity consumption.
According to its designers, the Kim-Box can manage buildings connected to single-phase, two-phase or three-phase power. It connects to users and energy distributors via the Login’App, allowing real-time, remote monitoring of consumption. This feature is expected to help customers detect waste—critical in a country where only 21% of the population has access to electricity.
The device also provides automatic protection against surges, short circuits and phase imbalances by cutting off the power supply in case of faults. This safety mechanism could reduce the frequency of house fires, often caused by outdated or poor-quality equipment.
Pre-orders are now open through an online form, although Kim Engineering has not disclosed pricing or production capacity. Behind the project is a team of young Congolese engineers, including several women in STEM, led by CEO Prisca Makila Biakong, described as the driving force behind the innovation.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Electricity Aimé Sakombi Molendo praised the initiative: “This innovation falls under the fourth pillar of the government’s action program, which promotes youth entrepreneurship and values local engineering. We must support the production and distribution of such solutions to modernize our national electricity grid.”
Boaz Kabeya
Highlights:
• Red Cross launches emergency appeal for $25M to help 965,000 people affected by Ebola resurgence in DRC's Kasai province
• Outbreak declared September 4 with 45 suspected cases, 3 confirmed, and 16 deaths in Bulape health zone
• Crisis coincides with ongoing mpox and cholera epidemics as reduced US aid complicates response efforts
The Red Cross launched an emergency appeal for 20 million Swiss francs (approximately $25 million) on September 15, 2025, to combat the resurgence of Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Kasai province. The twelve-week plan aims to assist 965,000 people, including 23,200 directly affected patients, contacts, caregivers, and volunteers, plus 680,000 residents in at-risk areas.
Planned activities include distributing hygiene kits in schools, markets, and public spaces, community awareness campaigns, installing handwashing stations, disinfecting homes and health facilities, providing psychosocial support, and organizing safe burials according to Health Ministry protocols.
The Red Cross warns medical facilities are reaching capacity. At the time of the appeal, the Bulape treatment center was operating at 119% capacity. The provincial government has opened a special "Efforts Ebola" bank account, inviting Kasai citizens worldwide to contribute financially alongside expected international support.
Health Minister Roger Kamba declared the epidemic resurgence on September 4 after identifying 28 suspected cases in the Bulape health zone, including 15 deaths among them four healthcare workers. This marks the virus's sixteenth reappearance in the country. By September 15, the situation had escalated to 45 suspected cases, three confirmed cases, and 16 deaths.
The World Health Organization reports that 2,000 vaccine doses stored in Kinshasa are being transported to Kasai. Vaccination has begun among healthcare workers, with 48 of 85 staff members immunized. The Health Ministry expects an additional 45,000 doses to cover patient contacts, their relatives, and remaining medical staff.
This Ebola outbreak occurs while the DRC simultaneously battles mpox and cholera epidemics. Although both are declining, they remain present. The ministry wants to eradicate cholera by November, but reduced US aid, particularly through USAID, complicates efforts. Humanitarian workers told Reuters this withdrawal creates a void that will be difficult to fill for an effective response.
The triple epidemic burden highlights the DRC's ongoing public health challenges and the critical importance of sustained international support for disease containment in regions with limited healthcare infrastructure.
Timothée Manoke
Highlights:
• Chemaf could halt copper cathode production by November after failed sale process that began in August 2023
• Company needs $250-300M to complete expansion projects despite already investing $570M in new mines
• 3,000 jobs at risk as unions report wage delays amid $900M total debt burden
Mining company Chemaf may cease copper cathode production as early as November after months of financial difficulties, according to a management letter obtained by Radio Okapi on September 19, 2025. Board Chairman Shiraz Virj confirmed the potential shutdown, attributing it to the collapse of sale negotiations that began in August 2023.
Although a potential buyer had been identified, the transaction failed to secure expected regulatory approvals by March 2025. "We are doing everything we can to reach an agreement. However, in the absence of a new investor, Chemaf will be forced to cease operations," Virj said.
The company has been stretched by ambitious expansion projects, particularly developing the Mutoshi mine in Kolwezi and phase 2 of the Étoile mine in Lubumbashi. Both projects are over 80% complete, with more than $570 million already invested, but still require between $250 million and $300 million to finish. Once operational, these facilities would boost Chemaf's annual capacity to 75,000 tons of copper and 25,000 tons of cobalt hydroxide.
Owned 94.68% by Chemaf Resources Ltd and 5% by the Congolese government, the company carries total debt approaching $900 million. In June 2024, Chemaf announced an agreement to sell assets to Chinese group Norin Mining, including a major cobalt project on a Gécamines permit. However, the state-owned company opposed the transaction, seeking control of Chemaf itself.
Bloomberg reports that an American consortium led by Orion Resource Partners and Virtus Minerals, backed by main creditor Trafigura, is currently negotiating a takeover. Orion would provide financing while Virtus handles management. However, according to Jeune Afrique, this deal also lacks Gécamines' approval.
To address the impasse, company unions have initiated talks with Kinshasa authorities, calling for direct state involvement to guarantee jobs and establish tripartite dialogue. Unions already report wage delays, production drops, and benefit cuts affecting approximately 3,000 workers who fear worsening conditions if sale uncertainty persists.
The potential closure would eliminate a significant copper and cobalt producer in the DRC's mining heartland, highlighting the challenges facing mining companies caught between expansion ambitions and financing constraints in the current market environment.
Ronsard Luabeya
Highlights:
• Fintech Paymetrust approved by Congo’s central bank as aggregator on July 4.
• Platform offers real-time supervision of financial flows, enhancing compliance.
• Already active in 14 African countries with over 10 million transactions in 2023.
Fintech company Paymetrust announced it had received, since July 4, 2025, approval from the Banque Centrale du Congo (BCC) to operate as an aggregator in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This allows the startup to legally provide its services in the country.
“This approval reflects our commitment to contributing to the development of the Congolese digital ecosystem. We want to offer reliable solutions that accelerate the digitization of payments while complying with the strict standards of the Central Bank,” said CEO Moussa Haïdra.
The company’s technology platform enables regulators and stakeholders to monitor financial flows in real time, strengthening traceability, transparency, compliance, and transaction security. In line with BCC requirements, Paymetrust will also connect to the national electronic money switch to ensure interoperability.
Its unified API allows seamless integration between ecosystem players, a major challenge in Congo’s fragmented payments market. Paymetrust already operates in 14 African countries, including Senegal, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Tanzania, and processed more than 10 million transactions worth $5 million in 2023.
The platform supports over 65 payment methods — from mobile money to bank cards and e-wallets — and offers an intuitive dashboard for merchants and users. Payments can be made in five currencies: XAF, XOF, GNF, TZS, and USD.
Ronsard Luabeya
Highlights:
• Vital Kamerhe quit as National Assembly speaker on Sept. 22 after mismanagement accusations.
• President Félix Tshisekedi, speaking from New York, urged institutional stability.
• Jean-Claude Isaac Tshilumbayi takes interim charge pending a new election.
Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi on Sept. 22 urged calm after National Assembly speaker Vital Kamerhe resigned under pressure from deputies accusing him of mismanagement.
Speaking in New York, where he is attending the UN General Assembly, Tshisekedi said his role was not to interfere in parliament’s “internal kitchen” but to ensure rights and stability were respected. He called Kamerhe an “ally and brother” and denied any involvement in his departure.
Kamerhe stepped down after petitions from ruling UDPS lawmakers accused him of opacity in fund management. He stated that he had resigned to preserve national cohesion and refocus parliament on key issues, while rejecting the allegations.
Petitions also targeted four other bureau members. First vice-president Jean-Claude Isaac Tshilumbayi will serve as acting speaker until a replacement is elected.
Kamerhe’s Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC) is split, while more than 260 deputies, mostly UDPS, had demanded his exit. The crisis comes as fighting intensifies in eastern Congo and the government trims its 2025 budget to 50,691.8 billion Congolese francs.
PM (Ecofin Agency)
Highlights:
• British energy firm Savannah Energy nears $65.4M deal to acquire 9.8% stake in Ruzizi III hydroelectric project
• 206 MW power station planned between DRC and Rwanda faces delays due to M23 rebel conflict in eastern DRC
• Deal part of broader regional hydro portfolio, including projects in Uganda and Malawi, financed through new debt facility
British energy company Savannah Energy announced it is close to finalizing a $65.4 million acquisition that would give it a 9.8% indirect stake in the Ruzizi III hydroelectric project straddling the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. The deal involves purchasing 50.1% of Klinchenberg BV from Norwegian development fund Norfund.
"Completion is not expected before first quarter 2026, with an economic effect date of December 31, 2024," the company stated in a September 19 press release. The transaction's finalization depends on the project's financial close, which includes contingent payments that would only be triggered at that milestone. Originally scheduled for September 30, 2025, the financial close has now been postponed to 2026.
The $760 million Ruzizi III project involves constructing a 206 MW hydroelectric power station on the Ruzizi River between the DRC and Rwanda, with connections also planned for Burundi. The infrastructure will be built in Walungu territory in eastern DRC, where ongoing clashes between the Congolese Armed Forces and M23 rebels are impacting donor commitments and project timelines.
Financial closing will also reconfigure the shareholding structure of project company Ruzizi III Energy Limited, designed as a joint public-private partnership between regional governments and private investors grouped within Ruzizi III Holding Power Company Limited. This vehicle includes SN Power, a TotalEnergies subsidiary, and Industrial Promotion Services from the Aga Khan Group. Private and public shareholders will hold 70% and 30% of REL's capital, respectively.
Beyond Ruzizi III, Savannah Energy is acquiring 13.6% of Uganda's Bujagali hydroelectric project and 12.3% of Malawi's Mpatamanga project. The company plans to finance the deals through a new $37.4 million debt facility from an undisclosed major international bank, supplemented by available cash.
Savannah Energy already operates a gas project in Nigeria and an oil project in Niger. The British company also claims a 41.06% stake in Cameroon Oil Transportation Company, which operates Cameroon's oil export pipeline, though this stake is not recognized by the company's other shareholders.
Timothée Manoke
Highlights:
• DRC launches $19M climate resilience project targeting 30,000 people in eastern provinces
• Global Environment Facility contributes $8.24M for sustainable agriculture on 15,000 hectares
• Initiative focuses on North Kivu, South Kivu, and Maniema with emphasis on women and youth entrepreneurship
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is rolling out a five-year climate adaptation program targeting its eastern regions. The $19 million "Resilient Growth and Adaptation to Climate Change" project aims to strengthen climate resilience in provinces plagued by both environmental degradation and ongoing conflict.
The Global Environment Facility's Least Developed Countries Fund is providing $8.24 million of the total budget, with the DRC government and other partners covering the remainder. The initiative will focus on North Kivu, South Kivu, and Maniema—three provinces with fragile forest ecosystems and high vulnerability to climate impacts.
The program plans to reach around 30,000 people, with women making up half the beneficiaries. It will prioritize agricultural resilience and community support, including assistance for indigenous peoples and Pygmy communities often marginalized in development programs.
Key activities include deploying sustainable farming practices across 15,000 hectares through improved seed distribution and training over 500 lead farmers. The training aims to help farmers cope with climate threats like droughts, floods, and unpredictable rainfall patterns that increasingly disrupt harvests.
Special attention will go to female and youth entrepreneurship through technical and financial support for agricultural processing and marketing ventures. This approach targets both immediate climate adaptation and longer-term economic opportunities in regions where alternatives to subsistence farming remain scarce.
The project aligns with the DRC's National Adaptation Plan and commitments under the Paris Agreement. Officials say it addresses root causes of vulnerability, including ecosystem breakdown, weak institutions, and limited economic prospects.
Success will depend heavily on security conditions in the eastern provinces, where armed groups continue to disrupt rural communities and development efforts.
Boaz Kabeya
Highlights
• Singapore firm secures funds via PIPE transaction led by Chaince Securities.
• Proceeds to support launch of DRCPass, Congo’s national e-ID platform.
• System aims to curb SIM fraud, streamline e-services, boost financial inclusion.
Trident Digital Tech Holdings Ltd said on Sept. 16 it had raised $2.6 million to fund the launch of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s digital ID system. The Singapore-based company said the proceeds, net of costs, will go to the expansion and commercialization of DRCPass.
The system, developed under a public-private partnership with Kinshasa, will make Trident the DRC’s exclusive provider of electronic ID services (e-KYC) which uses Web3-based technologies. The system will enable biometric SIM authentication, and single sign-on access to public services.
The financing was arranged through a Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE) deal led by Chaince Securities, a unit of Mercurity Fintech Holding. Trident issued Class B shares with reduced voting rights to undisclosed institutional investors. A resale registration statement will be filed with the US SEC.
Authorities say the platform is expected to cut fraud linked to fake SIM cards, expand e-government services, improve access to credit, and serve as a secure complement to physical ID. Before the official launch, DRCPass must clear audits, pilot tests, and a nationwide awareness campaign.
-
Qatar Investment Authority to acquire 4% stake in Ivanhoe Mines.
-
Deal worth $500 mln awaits Toronto Stock Exchange approval.
-
Funds to support copper, zinc projects in DRC and global exploration.
Ivanhoe Mines said on Sept. 17 it had struck a deal with Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund for a $500 million investment. The agreement gives the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) a 4% stake in the Canadian miner through the purchase of 57.5 million shares.
The private placement is pending approval by the Toronto Stock Exchange. Ivanhoe’s top shareholders, CITIC Metal Africa Investments and Zijin Mining Group, retain the right to acquire shares at the same price as QIA to keep their level of participation.
QIA chief Mohammed Saif Al-Sowaidi said the investment reflected confidence in Ivanhoe’s assets and its role in supplying minerals for the energy transition. "This strategic investment reflects QIA's belief not only in Ivanhoe Mines' world-class portfolio of assets, but more importantly in supporting its team to find, develop and sustainably supply the minerals essential to the global energy transition and advanced technology applications," he said.
Ivanhoe claimed it plans to channel the funds into exploration and mining projects. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the TSX-listed firm owns 39.6% of the Kamoa-Kakula copper mine, the country’s largest copper mine, and 62% of the Kipushi zinc mine. Ivanhoe operates both projects.
PM with Ecofin Agency
-
DRC Council of Ministers approves collaboration agreement for $8 billion Sino-Congolese Industrial City featuring 1,200 factories across 5,000 hectares
-
Industrial city forms part of massive $50 billion new city project on 43,000-hectare site in Maluku commune east of Kinshasa
-
Project targets 30,000 immediate jobs and 100,000 over 10 years
The Democratic Republic of Congo has cleared a major hurdle for its ambitious industrial development plans, with the Council of Ministers approving a collaboration agreement for the Sino-Congolese Industrial City on September 12, 2025. The Strategic Committee overseeing the broader Kinshasa extension project called the decision "momentous," paving the way for an official project launch within days.
The industrial city is part of a $50 billion initiative to build a new urban center on 43,000 hectares in Maluku commune, east of Kinshasa. The industrial zone will feature eight parks housing 1,200 factories across 5,000 hectares, plus a 2,000-hectare commercial district and 500-hectare workers' quarter, with total investment estimated at $8 billion according to Belgian newspaper L'Echo.
The 7,500-hectare site enjoys strategic access to the Congo River and the capital's main transportation arteries. Designated as a Special Economic Zone, it will offer tax and customs incentives to attract foreign and domestic investors focusing on agro-industry, manufacturing, and other production activities.
The agreement approval comes after significant delays. Construction was originally scheduled to begin in early 2025, but negotiations proved complex. A first version submitted to the Council of Ministers on July 18 was rejected, forcing revisions.
Details of the final agreement remain confidential, though it binds the DRC to Sino-Congo Special Economic Development Zone Sarl, the project company established by a Chinese consortium led by China State Construction Engineering. The implementation roadmap was also presented to ministers, but not made public.
Under previous timelines, development would proceed gradually from 2025-2026 with land preparation and basic infrastructure, followed by the first industrial units coming online from 2027, building to full capacity by 2030.
The project promises immediate creation of 30,000 direct jobs and over 100,000 positions within a decade. For the Congolese government, the industrial city represents a crucial diversification tool as minerals still account for over 90% of national exports. Officials hope the zone will develop sectors that add local value and broaden the tax base beyond resource extraction.
Pierre Mukoko
More...
-
ECCAS gives DRC and Equatorial Guinea a second chance after candidates were rejected for late file submissions to the regional commission
-
Burundian Ézéchiel Nibigira appointed Commission President with a 45-day mandate to finalize the selection process for the remaining six posts
-
Only 52 of 133 applications were accepted for the seven-member commission, with fierce competition from countries excluded from the previous mandate
The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) has granted the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) a reprieve after its candidates for the regional commission were initially rejected for submitting applications late. Meeting in extraordinary session on September 7, 2025, ECCAS heads of state decided to allow both DRC and Equatorial Guinea candidates back into the selection process.
The candidates had been rejected by Forvis Mazars, the firm handling pre-selection for the ECCAS Commission, but will now have their applications reviewed. Burundian Ézéchiel Nibigira, appointed as the new Commission President at the summit, has 45 days to complete the selection process with Forvis Mazars' support.
The ECCAS Commission includes seven positions: President, Vice-President, and commissioners for Political Affairs/Peace/Security, Common Market/Economic/Monetary/Financial Affairs, Environment/Natural Resources/Agriculture/Rural Development, Spatial Planning/Infrastructure, and Gender/Human/Social Development.
Under treaty rules, each member state can hold only one post, with countries absent from the outgoing team getting priority. The DRC, previously represented by Yvette Ngandu Kapinga as Gender Commissioner, faces stiff competition to retain its seat. The Central African Republic, Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Burundi were excluded from the previous mandate and are determined to secure positions this time.
Competition will be intense, with only 52 of 133 applications from member states accepted so far. The limited number of available seats makes selection particularly challenging. The new leadership team's investiture is scheduled for the November-December heads of state summit.
For the DRC, the second chance represents an opportunity to maintain its influence within the regional bloc, though it will need exceptionally strong candidates to succeed in the competitive environment.
Ronsard Luabeya
-
Ivorian SCHIBA Group expresses interest in road and energy infrastructure projects in DRC amid the country's infrastructure deficit
-
Group highlights 1,200+ kilometers of road construction experience in Côte d'Ivoire during meeting with DRC Infrastructure Minister
-
Multi-sector company operates through subsidiaries, including Schiba Énergies & Services for electrification and ETS MSSZ for road construction
The Ivorian SCHIBA Group is eyeing major infrastructure opportunities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, focusing on roads and energy projects where the country desperately needs investment. Company Chairman and CEO Soro Nidjabedjan led a delegation that met Infrastructure and Public Works Minister John Banza Lunda on September 15, 2025.
Few details have emerged from the discussions, but SCHIBA emphasized its impressive credentials in Côte d'Ivoire, where it has built more than 1,200 kilometers of roads. The company positioned this experience as proof that it can tackle the DRC's massive infrastructure challenges.
SCHIBA has grown into a diversified conglomerate spanning construction, distribution, finance, insurance, and energy sectors. Its subsidiary Schiba Énergies & Services, launched in 2022, handles rural electrification, commercial electrical work, renewable energy projects, security systems, and fire safety. Another arm, ETS MSSZ, builds roads, highways, and water infrastructure. Founded in 2008, ETS MSSZ was the group's first venture.
BK
- Rawbank selected as one of ten banks to manage grants for World Bank-funded women entrepreneur program in DRC
- Partnership will facilitate $70 million in subsidies to 3,850 businesses, with 60% of SMEs targeting women-led companies
- Bank leverages Lady's First program supporting 2,000+ women entrepreneurs and 46% growth in SME lending to $225 million
The Democratic Republic of Congo's largest bank has secured a key role in the World Bank's ambitious women entrepreneur empowerment program, positioning itself to manage millions in grants while expanding its small business customer base.
Rawbank signed a partnership agreement on September 12 with the Transforme project to manage grants awarded through its business plan competition (Copa), becoming the first of 10 selected financial institutions to formalize the arrangement. The remaining banks, unnamed, are expected to sign similar deals in the coming days.
Strategic Grant Management Role
Under the agreement, Transforme will deposit grant funds with Rawbank based on how many Copa winners choose the institution to house their awards. The bank will open dedicated accounts or sub-accounts for recipients and provide tailored support, including relaxed conditions for accessing additional financial services like invoice discounting and leasing.
Rawbank will also leverage its expertise and network to facilitate credit access and build entrepreneurial capacity specifically for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), particularly women-led businesses.
Building on Proven Track Record
The partnership builds on Rawbank's established SME support infrastructure. Through its Lady's First program, the bank already supports over 2,000 women entrepreneurs, while its SME loan portfolio surged 46% to $225 million in 2024 via the 20,000 SMEs program implemented with the Financial Inclusion Fund.
"This partnership represents a unique opportunity to catalyze the entrepreneurial energy of Congolese women and build a more resilient, modern, and equitable economic fabric," said Rawbank Deputy General Manager Christian Kamanzi.
Massive Scale Across 13 Provinces
Transforme aims to subsidize 3,850 businesses across the DRC, including 800 SMEs with 60% targeting women-led companies. The program has already selected 1,154 companies for nearly $70 million in total subsidies, with selections continuing.
Launched in June 2022 with a $295 million budget split between loans and grants, Transforme operates across 13 provinces through September 2027. The initiative offers financial aid, improves financing access, and enhances working conditions through dedicated business centers.
For Rawbank, the partnership offers customer base expansion and stronger MSME relationships with reduced risk exposure, while advancing the DRC's broader economic transformation goals centered on women entrepreneurship.
Pierre Mukoko and Ronsard Luabeya
-
Kinshasa food prices drop significantly due to abundant harvests, with tomatoes falling 47% and eggplants down 30%
-
Imported products also decline as regular shipments boost supply, with European onions dropping 36%
-
Grain maize bucks trend with 38% price increase, rising from 210,000 to 290,000 Congolese francs per 100kg bag
Food prices across Kinshasa have dropped dramatically over recent days as abundant seasonal harvests and steady imports flood the capital's markets, offering relief to consumers facing persistent inflation pressures.
The most striking decline hit tomatoes from Kimpese, which plummeted 47% from 190,000 Congolese francs per case to 100,500 francs. Eggplants from Boma in Central Kongo region fell 30%, selling for 125,500 francs compared to the previous 180,000 francs per bag.
Seasonal harvests are powering widespread reductions across fresh produce categories. Celery bundles dropped 13% to 30,500 francs, while avocados from Mbanza-Ngungu decreased 18% from 110,000 to 90,000 francs per case between August 12 and September 12, according to Agence congolaise de presse (ACP). Even cucumbers saw modest declines, falling 8% to 230,500 francs per bag.
The price drops reflect the cyclical nature of agricultural markets, where harvest seasons typically create temporary supply surges that benefit urban consumers who often struggle with food affordability.
Imports Add to Supply Pressure
International shipments have amplified the downward pressure on prices. European onion fillets crashed 36% from 180,000 to 115,500 francs, while imported garlic dropped 24% to 60,500 francs per 20-kilogram package. These declines suggest improved import flows are complementing domestic production to ease market tensions.
Maize Bucks the Trend
Grain maize stands as a notable exception to the broader decline, surging 38% from 210,000 to 290,000 francs per 100-kilogram bag between August 25 and September 11. No explanation was provided for this increase, which contrasts sharply with the general market trend.
Market sellers quoted by AgriMedia expect continued price declines as long as supply remains robust from both local harvests and regular import arrivals.
Timothée Manoke