News (294)
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), state-owned Lignes Maritimes Congolaises (LMC) is about to add two vessels to its fleet, according to its Board Chairman Lambert Mende Omalanga. The executive announced the move on May 6 in Matadi, after meeting with Kongo Central Governor Grâce Bilolo.
“I have come to announce to the governor of Kongo Central province, Grâce Bilolo, that we are about to acquire two floating units to improve working conditions for our provincial management,” Omalanga said.
Mende, a former Communications Minister, emphasized that the two ships have been ordered from shipyards in Rotterdam, Netherlands, as part of LMC’s five-year recovery plan (2023–2027). Under the latter, the firm should buy five new vessels and second-hand multipurpose ships, using state funds.
The five-year plan aims to bolster the state-owned company’s fleet and increase its share of Congolese foreign trade shipping from 0.3% in 2021 to 2% by 2027. This would represent a growth in transported volume from 45,000 tonnes to 395,195 tonnes.
To support this expansion, LMC also plans to develop dry ports in Matadi, Boma, Lufu, and Kinshasa, reinforce storage facilities in Dar es Salaam, and build a dry port in Kolwezi (Lualaba). The company intends to acquire containers to optimize the logistics chain and improve trade flow.
LMC used to have 10 sea-going vessels, but its whole fleet was liquidated two decades ago. The public shipowner was created in 1974 to handle the international maritime transport of Congolese goods.
Lambert Mende also noted that the government has instructed LMC to collect shipping royalties, a measure intended to compensate the company for past losses.
This article was initially published in French by Ronsard Luabeya (intern)
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
The mobile Internet market in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) generated $970.2 million in revenue in 2024. The figure, revealed by the country’s telecom regulator, the ARPTC, accounted for 46.4% of the sector’s total sales, which reached $2.09 billion.
Mobile Internet’s contribution to operators’ revenues rose from 29% in 2022 to 27.3% in 2023 and 46.4% in 2024. Between 2023 and 2024, the revenues from the Mobile Internet segment jumped 30.3%, while the whole mobile sector recorded an 8.7% growth in revenues.
This growth is driven more by a surge in data consumption than by subscriber growth. Over one year, the number of subscribers rose by 10% to nearly 33 million, while the volume of data consumed soared by 54% to a record 1,083 billion gigabytes. For comparison, data consumption in 2024 was 2.5 times higher than in 2022 (around 486 billion gigabytes).
Kinshasa and Haut-Katanga remain the main hubs for subscriptions, but the two Kivus (North and South) are emerging as markets to watch, with 5.8 million subscribers by the end of 2024, making the region second only to Kinshasa.
Market shares among operators vary. Vodacom RDC leads in active subscribers (over 90 days) with a 37.78% share, followed by Orange (29.97%), Airtel (29.33%), and Africell (2.92%). However, Airtel dominates Internet revenues, bringing in $365.5 million (37.7%), ahead of Orange (31.5%), Vodacom (27%), and Africell (3.8%). Airtel has held this leading position since 2021.
The DRC’s mobile Internet market still has significant growth potential. The GSMA forecasts 15 million additional subscribers by 2030, underscoring the sector’s role as a key growth driver for telecom operators and justifying recent efforts to expand coverage and enhance competitiveness
This article was initially published in French by Georges Auréole Bamba
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
The Kibali mine in Haut-Uélé province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), produced 141,000 ounces (4,384.6 kg) of gold in the first quarter of 2025, according to Barrick Mining’s quarterly report published on May 7. The output dropped 16% year-on-year and 20.3% compared to Q4 2024.
Barrick expects an output of 688,000–755,000 ounces this year. However, first-quarter results fall short of the quarterly average needed to meet this goal, estimated at 172,000 to 188,750 ounces. The company points to "higher grades for later in the year, mainly thanks to underground mining," but does not specify if this will be enough to meet annual targets.
In 2024, due to lower gold grades, Kibali delivered 688,000 ounces, 10% less than in 2023. Despite the decline, the mine’s contribution to Barrick’s sales rose by 30% to $316 million. Factoring in Barrick’s 45% stake, Kibali’s total sales are estimated at $702.2 million.
This revenue boost is attributed to the ongoing surge in gold prices. On April 22, the spot price of gold surpassed $3,500 an ounce for the first time, driven by Sino-American trade tensions and disputes between President Donald Trump and the Federal Reserve. JP Morgan, in a note published at the end of April, projected that gold prices could exceed $4,000 an ounce by 2026.
This article was initially published in French by Pierre Mukoko
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
Since January, tantalite prices have jumped 25%. According to Reuters, the ore currently trades between $100 and $105 per pound on the European spot market, the highest level seen since April 2023.
In February, data provider Argus had already revised its price estimates upward to $80–$88 per pound, up 8% from the previous range of $75 to $81.
The price rally was mainly spurred by lower supplies from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the DRC was the world’s leading tantalum producer in 2023, holding more than 41% of the global market. However, output remains volatile due to ongoing instability in several mining regions. This has only worsened since January 2025 with the advance of M23 rebels into key producer towns.
The conflict-induced instability disrupted supply chains, especially as buyers increasingly demand traceable and conflict-free material. “The conflict affecting eastern DRC makes it difficult to obtain legitimate labeled tantalite. [...] You can place an order for material in a province not affected by the conflict, and the rebels take control of the area within two weeks of signing an agreement,” an anonymous trader told Reuters.
Looking ahead, the situation remains uncertain. Stabilizing key production zones could ease supply pressures, but much will depend on the outcome of peace negotiations between Kinshasa, the M23 rebels, and Rwanda, the rebellion’s main supporter.
This article was initially published in French by Aurel Sèdjro Houenou (Ecofin Agency)
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
Zambia’s power watchdog greenlit the Kalumbila-Kolwezi Interconnection Project (KKIP) on May 6. The project will see the design, financing, construction, and operation of a 330 kV high-voltage line stretching roughly 190 km to connect Zambia with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Backed by Enterprise Power DRC (Enpower), a private electricity trading company, the KKIP has been years in the making. While its approval by the Zambian regulator is laudable, it still needs to be approved by the Congolese power regulator, according to Enpower.
So far, feasibility studies, detailed design, and environmental and social impact assessments have all been completed and validated by authorities in both countries. Concession and implementation agreements are in place, signed by the Ministries of Energy in Zambia and the DRC.
The next hurdle is finalizing the project’s financing. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank Group’s private sector arm, was appointed lead arranger in November 2024, with financial close targeted for mid-2025. The total project cost is estimated at $250 million.
The KKIP aims to increase power transmission capacity between Zambia and the DRC, especially to supply the mining regions of Lualaba and north-western Zambia, where energy demand is rising alongside mining expansion. The only existing interconnection line is already saturated. Enpower reports it has signed a 350 MW supply contract with Zambia’s national utility, ZESCO, and has secured a permit to import electricity into the DRC.
This article was initially published in French by Pierre Mukoko
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
The DR Congo government is looking for a firm to repair and modernize the Bumba-Aketi-Buta-Mungbere railway, stretching 870 km in the northeast part of the country. On May 2, 2025, Kinshasa launched an international tender to find a company.
The line, with a 0.60 m gauge and rails ranging from 18 to 33 kg/m, once anchored the region’s economy by moving agricultural and mining products, but has fallen into disrepair since the late 1990s.
The Ministry of Transport said contractors must have at least 10 years of major rail project experience and proven technical and financial strength. The project scope may include additional feasibility studies, upgrades to track, signaling, and telecoms, and the establishment of a sustainable operating model, such as a PPP, concession, or other institutional arrangement. The deadline for applications is June 30, 2025.
The project ultimately aims to open up Bas-Uélé and Haut-Uélé, strengthen inland rail connectivity, and lay the groundwork for sustainable transport in one of the DRC’s most isolated regions.
Reviving this line would unlock new opportunities for supply, marketing, and processing for local economic actors, crossing areas rich in forestry, agriculture, and mining-including gold in Watsa and Mungbere-and could improve links to the port of Mombasa via Uganda.
From 1924 to the late 1990s, this railway line structured the economy of the Uélé provinces, facilitating the evacuation of agricultural and mining products. Its gradual deterioration led to the collapse of Société des chemins de fer Uélé-Fleuve (SCFUF), formerly known as Vicicongo.
This article was initially published in French by Boaz Kabeya (intern) and Timothée Manoke (intern)
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
KoBold Metals, the U.S.-based mining company backed by heavyweight investors including Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, is stepping up its campaign to secure rights to the Manono lithium deposit in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a site widely seen as having “the potential to become a large-scale, long-life lithium mine.” According to a January 2024 estimate, Manono could hold 669 million tonnes of resources grading 1.61% lithium.
On May 6, 2025, KoBold and Australia’s AVZ Minerals issued a joint statement titled Developing Manono for Peace and Prosperity, signed by their respective CEOs, Kurt House and Nigel Ferguson. The companies announced they had “reached consensus on a commercial framework to enable the rapid development of the Manono deposit.”
The statement specifies: “This framework provides for AVZ to cede its commercial interests in the Manono lithium deposit to KoBold, at fair value.” The document further claims this agreement would allow KoBold to “quickly” mobilize more than a billion dollars “to bring Manono’s lithium to Western markets.”
But the Congolese government maintains that AVZ no longer has any rights to Manono, arguing those rights were lost when state-owned Cominière terminated its partnership with AVZ in 2022. AVZ is contesting the move before the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, where it has already secured an order for Cominière to pay €39.1 million in penalties for non-compliance with injunctions. However, the tribunal has yet to rule on the core ownership issue.
KoBold’s January offer proposes to resolve the dispute by granting “appropriate compensation” to AVZ in exchange for relinquishing its claims on Manono. The company says it is prepared to develop the southern part of the deposit, while the northern section would remain under the control of the Chinese group Zijin Mining.
Manono Lithium SAS-a joint venture 61% owned by Zijin (via Jinxiang Lithium) and 39% by Cominière-was granted an operating permit in September 2024 for part of the deposit. The company plans to begin lithium production in the first quarter of 2026.
An offer for “peace and prosperity”
So far, Congolese authorities have not commented publicly on KoBold’s offer. The May 6 joint statement suggests no favorable response yet. “AVZ has undertaken to propose to the Congolese government a temporary suspension of the ICSID arbitration proceedings to facilitate discussions,” the document states.
KoBold and AVZ may be trying to pressure Kinshasa by leveraging the current warming of US-DRC relations, considering the May 6 statement, which reads: “AVZ and KoBold are cooperating with all stakeholders, including the US government, the DRC government, and AVZ’s current development partner.”
AVZ and KoBold frame their proposal as a contribution to “peace and prosperity,” promising “thousands of well-paying jobs for the Congolese, over several decades.”
Kinshasa recently offered the Trump administration a mining agreement in exchange for its support toward resolving the ongoing conflict in Eastern DRC. Since then, the issue has been the subject of bilateral discussions, and Washington is actively involved in the resolution process.
“A lasting peace in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo will open the door to greater U.S. and Western citizen investment, which will create an ecosystem conducive to responsible and reliable supply chains for things like critical minerals,” declared US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on April 25, 2025, in Washington, at the signing of the “declaration of principles” for a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, the main supporter of the M23 rebellion.
This article was initially published in French by Pierre Mukoko
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
Airtel Africa has signed a landmark agreement with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s high-speed satellite internet to its customers across the continent, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where Starlink just received its operating license. Airtel Africa announced the partnership via a May 5, 2025, statement.
According to Airtel DRC, the partnership aims to“connect even the most remote regions with fast, reliable, and affordable internet”by using Starlink’s network to link Airtel’s base transceiver stations (BTS)in hard-to-reach areas to its central telecom infrastructure. This move is expected to slash equipment costs compared to current VSAT technology.
"Thus, this agreement will enable Airtel to offer a higher-quality service with greater capacity than 3G or even 4G while reducing deployment costs, which should accelerate its territory coverage," our source concludes.
For Airtel DRC, this deal is a strategic play in the race for 15 million new mobile internet subscribers expected in the country by 2030, as projected by the GSMA. It also responds to recent moves by competitors Orange and Vodacom, who are expanding rural coverage through a joint venture for solar-powered mobile base stations.
Data from the Congolese telecom regulator shows that as of late 2024, Airtel had 9.66 million mobile internet subscribers in the DRC (29.33% market share), trailing Vodacom (37.78%) and Orange (29.97%), but leading in internet revenue with $365.5 million (37.7% share). The partnership gives SpaceX a chance to expand Starlink’s reach in markets previously limited by high service costs, with African packages ranging from $29 to $40 per month and equipment at $299.
Starlink’s official launch in the DRC is expected in May 2025, and its impact on Airtel’s subscriber growth and market position will be closely watched. Both companies tout the agreement as a major step toward digital inclusion, promising to transform connectivity for schools, health centers, businesses, and rural communities across Africa.
This article was initially published in French by Pierre Mukoko and Ronsard Luabeya (intern)
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
Carousel Finance, with offices in London and Geneva, is gearing up to launch an investment fund dedicated to the “Kia Kinshasa Mona” (“Kinshasa revealed”) project, which aims to expand the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mandated by the project’s Strategic Oversight Committee (CSSPVK), Carousel is tasked with structuring the financing and mobilizing investors.
On April 18 and 20, 2025, Carousel Finance presented the fund to investors at DRC embassies in France and Belgium. “This fund is designed to finance the main components of the project by securing contracts and remuneration for technical operators and investors in several sectors,” explains Carousel Finance management. According to the same source, the fund will “provide clear risk allocation, efficient operational coordination and a sustainable capital commitment, aligned with the progressive development of the project.” All are “framed by international standards.”
Upcoming Economic Forum
The CSSPVK website, launched in January 2024, puts the total cost of the “Kia Kinshasa Mona” project at $50 billion, though it’s unclear if this matches the fund’s actual fundraising target, as no size has been specified yet.
Carousel Finance is clearly courting major players. In France, the investor meetings drew representatives from Africa Global Logistics, CMA CGM, KPMG, Accor, Nexans, Citi, Sunna Design, Dassault Systèmes, Eiffage, and King & Spalding. In Belgium, the lineup included the Port of Antwerp, IIDG, Besix, Deme, Siemens Belgium, Rawbank, as well as public agencies like Awex and Bio Invest
These sessions are paving the way for a major economic forum in London, date still to be announced. The goal: to “structure concrete commitments around the project,” says Marius Esposito, head of strategic partnerships at Carousel Finance. On April 29, 2025, Carousel’s chairman, Jafar Hilali, met with the DRC’s ambassador to the UK, Ndolamb Ngokwey, to discuss the event.
Planned Works
According to the CSSPVK, seven sub-projects have already been finalized and are scheduled to kick off by June 2025. These include the construction of an administrative and business city, as well as an industrial center entrusted to China State Construction Engineering, a firm chosen for its global expertise and track record in large-scale urban projects. An agreement for these works was signed at the Africa-China Forum in September 2024, and both contracts have been reviewed by the partnership regulatory agency. The total estimated cost for these infrastructures stands at $8 billion, according to Belgian newspaper L’Echo.
Another major project underway is a hospital complex, awarded to a consortium of Antwerp-based International Infrastructure Development Group (IIDG) and Morocco’s Travaux Généraux de Construction de Casablanca (TGCC), with support from Bpifrance, and budgeted at $300 million.
Last March, two additional protocols were signed with Congolese companies: one with Entreprise Kipelo Maschind Multiservices (EKMM) for a 5-megawatt solar power plant and related infrastructure, and another with MJ Center to develop a river transport system connecting Kinshasa to the future city.
Thousands of new jobs
The "Kia Kinshasa Mona" project is a massive $50 billion initiative to create a modern extension of Kinshasa, spanning 43,000 hectares, or about 4.7% of the capital, according to a JICA 2019 study. The project’s developers claim the new city will accommodate up to 5 million people-significant, but still only a fraction of Kinshasa’s estimated 20 million residents, a population growing at 3% per year. They also said thousands of jobs will be created under the initiative.
For now, it is unclear if the project will be integrated into Kinshasa’s Transport Master Plan (PDTK)-critical for connecting the old and new cities.
This article was initially published in French by Georges Auréole Bamba
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
Access Bank DRC closed 2024 with a balance sheet total of CDF1,154 billion-about USD409.8 million at the year’s average exchange rate, still below its USD524 million target. Even at the 2023 rate, it’s only USD489.36 million. The bank reported a CDF3.3 billion capital loss due to franc depreciation. According to the source, a post on the lender’s official LinkedIn page, Access Bank DRC expects a balance sheet total of USD697 million and USD900 million in 2025 and 2026, respectively.
In a press conference, the bank reported a potential capital loss of CDF3.3 billion, attributed to the depreciation of the Congolese franc in 2024. But even applying the average exchange rate for 2023 (2,350 CDF/USD), on which the targets were based, the balance sheet total of CDF1,154 billion is equivalent to 489.36 million USD, still below the target.
By July 2026, unless the moratorium is extended, Access Bank RDC, like many other banks in the Democratic Republic of Congo, will have to comply with new regulations issued by the Central Bank of Congo limiting the maximum holding of a single shareholder to 55%. The Holdings, based in Nigeria, currently holds 99.7% of its Congolese subsidiary’s capital. In addition, several unconfirmed sources report that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is forcing the group to dispose of its assets in the DRC in order to obtain the green light for the acquisition of the National Bank of Kenya (NBK).
In this context, the balance sheet total and its components will be key indicators for potential investors. Beyond the depreciation of the Congolese franc, Access Bank RDC will have to explain the reasons for the deviation from its 2024 forecasts. The publication of the 2024 Pillar 3 report on its website should provide further clarification.
In the meantime, the lender reported that its net income rose sharply to about CDF27 billion, a 91.7% increase over 2023, with a dollar equivalent increase of 59.7% using the 2023 exchange rate.
The bank, more than 80% of whose business is with corporates (according to its 2023 report), also reported an increase in customer deposits to CDF810.7 billion.
"This performance reflects our financial strength and our anchoring in the Congolese economy. Access Bank RDC remains committed to offering quality, innovative and inclusive services," said the bank, commenting on its results.
Further analysis of this performance will better highlight the bank's strengths, but also the challenges it faces.
This article was initially published in French by Georges Auréole Bamba
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
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The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) aims to produce 1.54 billion normo cubic meters (Nm³) of biogas per year by 2030, according to the 2024 annual report of the ANSER, the National Agency for Rural Electrification. Biogas, produced by methanization-the decomposition of organic matter in the absence of oxygen-offers a clean cooking energy alternative.
To reach this goal, the Integrated Biogas Program (PIB) was refined in 2024 to structure the biogas market. The ANSER, responsible for the industrial component, plans to attract public and private investment, facilitate financing, secure land and raw materials, establish distribution, and raise awareness about biogas use.
Since 2023, the ANSER has been in discussions with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to develop financing mechanisms such as credit, subsidies, and guarantees for the program and private sector participants.
To mitigate risks of land disputes and costs, methanization units are planned within the Maluku Special Economic Zone (ZES), 60 km from Kinshasa, with ANSER engaging the ZES agency on this matter.
Raw material supply is secured through partnerships with Kinshasa-based companies like Bralima, Bracongo, and Midema, which have agreed in principle to provide organic waste from industrial processes. Altech has also expressed interest in investing in a biogas filling center and retail distribution to facilitate access.
The ANSER plans to demonstrate the project’s viability by launching a pilot biogas plant with a 10,000 m³ monthly capacity by August 2025 in the Maluku SEZ.
Additionally, the UNDP leads a domestic biogas initiative aiming to equip 500,000 rural and urban households with biodigesters for cooking and lighting.
Aligned with its Energy Compact, the DRC targets a 30% adoption rate of clean cooking technologies by 2030, reducing dependence on solid fuels still used by over 95% of households. This would benefit approximately 40 million people with alternative cooking solutions.
This article was initially published in French by Pierre Mukoko and Boaz Kabeya (intern)
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
The Kamoa-Kakula mine generated revenues of $973 million in the first quarter of 2025, up 57% year-on-year. Ivanhoe Mines, which runs the mine, released the data on April 30. Kamoa-Kakula is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Over the period reviewed, the mine’s EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) rose from $384 million to $585 million, doubling net income to $266 million. This profit is shared between the mine's various owners: Ivanhoe Mines and the Chinese group Zijin Mining, who respectively hold 39.6% of the shares, the Congolese state with 20%, and Crystal River with 0.8%.
Copper price trends
Between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025, Kamoa-Kakula’s copper output jumped 54% to stand at 133,120 tonnes. Consequently, Ivanhoe sold more copper over the period - 109,963 tonnes in the first quarter of 2025, compared with 85,155 tonnes a year earlier. Also, the metal was sold at a higher average price: $4.19 per pound in Q1 2025, against $3.82 in Q1 2024.
This year, Ivanhoe aims to produce 520,000 to 580,000 tonnes of copper from the mine, and around 600,000 tonnes from 2026 onwards, compared with 437,061 tonnes produced in 2024. However, the level of revenue generated by Kamoa-Kakula will depend on copper price trends.
These prices were greatly impacted by the ongoing US-China trade warn. On the London Metal Exchange, the spot price of copper reached $9,200 per tonne at the end of April, after dropping to $8,500 at the beginning of the month.
This article was initially published in French by Emiliano Tossou
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
Soventix GmbH will contribute to the solar energy with storage project to power the Kamoa-Kakula copper complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The German firm announced this on April 30, 2025.
According to the announcement, Soventix will be involved in the planning, project management, and supply of components, while CrossBoundary Energy, a developer specializing in renewable energy solutions for businesses, will operate the entire scheme. In early April, Kamoa Copper, the complex’s owner, and CrossBoundary Energy signed a power purchase agreement.
The project includes building a 222 MWp solar power plant, combined with a 526 MWh storage system, capable of supplying a stable 30 MW of power to the mine.
The Kamoa-Kakula complex is one of Africa's most advanced copper projects. The complex could require around 240 MW of energy after the completion of its first, second, and third phases, and when its smelter is fully operational, in 2026. The solar power plant and storage project is just one of the initiatives being implemented to guarantee a clean, stable energy supply.
Already present in Nigeria, Kenya, and Rwanda, Soventix expands its footprint in Africa with the Congolese project. For its part, CrossBoundary is backed by the Norwegian fund Norfund, an alliance that supports a basic renewable model tailored to the needs of African heavy industry.
This article was initially published in French by Abdoullah Diop
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
Starlink has been allowed to operate in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to a press release dated May 2, 2025, the country’s telecom regulator, the ARPTC, granted an operating permit to Starlink DRC S.A., the local subsidiary of SpaceX Group's satellite Internet service provider. Starlink is Elon Musk's initiative to provide high-speed Internet access worldwide via a constellation of low-earth orbit satellites.
The firm secured the permit after regularizing its administrative situation. It can now operate in compliance with the DRC’s regulations.
The Congolese people, especially in rural and remote areas, should significantly benefit from the breakthrough. Starlink's services should come online in a few days.
Billionaire Elon Musk's company joins a Congolese market already occupied by 33 ISPs, according to ARPTC's biannual report (second half 2023) on the market observatory for the provision of Internet services. The advent of Starlink also coincides with preparations for the launch of 5G in the DRC.
The same report indicates that the DRC had over 29.9 million mobile Internet subscribers, compared with just 23,267 for fixed Internet in 2023. The penetration rate remains very low for fixed-line (0.024%), compared with 31.49% for mobile. Compared with the previous half-year, the total number of subscribers rose by 15.4%. The Internet services market generated over $599.1 million, but the revenue recovery rate for fixed Internet remains low, reaching just 48.3% among identified providers. According to the 2025 Mobile Economy report, published last March, the DRC is set to welcome 15 million new mobile Internet subscribers between 2025 and 2030.
On a mission to Washington (USA) in March 2025, Augustin Kibassa Maliba, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital (PTN), met with Starlink representatives. The meeting focused on the possibility of deploying Starlink's satellite technology to improve Internet access, particularly in rural areas where almost 70% of the population remains unconnected. At the end of the discussions, the two parties agreed to take the necessary administrative steps to launch Starlink's activities in the DRC, including drawing up specifications and obtaining operating licenses.
Ronsard Luabeya