News (946)
A delegation from SACOR, described as part of a Zambian group, met DR Congo’s Minister of Mines, Louis Watum Kabamba, on May 5, 2026, to present a solution for separating solid residues from water produced during ore concentration, material known in the industry as tailings. The delegation was led by Solange Kappongo, the company’s general manager in the DRC.
According to the ministry, the technology is intended to improve mining waste management by separating solids from water. The aim is to enable water reuse in industrial processes and improve the handling of solid residues at mining sites.
The technology relies on an established industrial process. Solid-liquid separation by centrifugation has long been used across several industries. The innovation lies mainly in its application to modern mining waste management, with the goal of reducing waste volumes, recovering process water and limiting environmental risks. On its website, SACOR claims water recovery rates of up to 85%.
The minister welcomed the initiative but urged caution before any rollout. Before large-scale implementation, Louis Watum Kabamba called for pilot tests to assess the solution’s effectiveness under local conditions. The ministry also said it would help connect SACOR with mining companies operating in the DRC.
For now, the discussions remain exploratory. No contract or pilot project has been announced. Available public sources do not confirm that the technology has been used at any specific mining site in Zambia.
The initiative comes as scrutiny over mining pollution in the DRC has intensified. In November 2025, Congo Dongfang Mining, active in cobalt processing, was implicated in an environmental incident in Lubumbashi after a tailings pond ruptured. The discharge of contaminated water affected rivers, soil and several outlying neighborhoods. The company was later ordered to pay about $12.6 million and carry out remediation measures.
Against that backdrop, SACOR is seeking to tap demand for better mining waste treatment in Congo’s mining sector, including reduced water use, improved waste handling and lower risks for surrounding communities. But any future presence in the market will depend mainly on the results of pilot tests and the interest of mining operators.
Ronsard Luabeya
Eastcastle Infrastructure's Democratic Republic of Congo subsidiary is pursuing an expansion project worth about $180 million, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) said on April 27, 2026. The IFC holds an 18.38% stake in the company.
The World Bank’s private-sector arm said the project aims to expand Eastcastle’s tower network in a country where digital infrastructure remains underdeveloped.
According to the latest data from the ARPTC, the DRC had 73.9 million active mobile subscriptions in the fourth quarter of 2025, for a population estimated at 112.2 million, equivalent to a penetration rate of 65.9%. Mobile internet generates more than 55% of total sector revenue, while mobile money penetration stood at 30.6% at the end of 2025.
To support expansion in a market where access to credit is limited, the IFC is preparing a new financing package for Eastcastle Infrastructure DRC. The package is expected to include a $30 million loan with longer maturities than typical commercial financing, along with up to $30 million mobilized from other lenders. The IFC board is scheduled to vote on the proposal on May 30.
Toward more than 1,000 towers
If approved, the financing will extend the support the IFC has already provided to Eastcastle. In 2023, the institution mobilized $60 million through a similar structure to fund the expansion of the company’s tower network in the DRC.
The new commitment reflects growing interest from international lenders in the Congolese telecommunications sector, seen as one of the most promising in Africa but still among the least developed in terms of infrastructure.
“This amount, combined with $34 million from Standard Bank of South Africa, will allow us to surpass 1,000 towers in the DRC,” said Peter Lewis, co-founder and director of Eastcastle Infrastructure Ltd., at the time.
The project’s expected outcomes have not been disclosed. However, new towers are being deployed, particularly in rural and remote areas that remain underserved by traditional infrastructure.
The DRC is a strategic market for Eastcastle. In 2023, Lewis described it as “one of the best markets in Africa,” citing strong demographic growth and a structural shortage of telecom infrastructure.
The group aims to continue expanding its network to keep pace with rising mobile usage in a country where a significant share of the population remains unconnected or poorly served. Other tower companies, including Helios Towers and Esengo Towers, are pursuing similar expansion projects.
Pierre Mukoko
DR Congo’s Minister of Foreign Trade, Julien Paluku, met Rawbank executives on May 4, 2026, following earlier talks with the outgoing British Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Alyson King.
“The objective is to turn British diplomatic commitments into tangible support for our farmers,” Paluku said.
He said Rawbank is considering targeted support for local producers across six value chains: coffee, cocoa, rice, corn, cassava and palm oil, with technical assistance from the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
In March 2026, Rawbank raised $265 million from investors led by the IFC, alongside British International Investment (BII), Proparco and other partners. The package includes a $165 million senior credit facility and a $100 million risk-sharing agreement.
The IFC is also expected to provide advisory services to strengthen Rawbank’s capabilities in areas such as climate finance, agricultural finance and support for women entrepreneurs.
According to the IFC, the program could finance at least 1,500 additional small and medium-sized enterprises over the next four years, particularly in sectors such as telecommunications and fast-moving consumer goods.
Paluku said he wants the program directed toward the coffee, cocoa, rice, corn, cassava and palm oil sectors.
“We emphasized the need for targeted support for post-conflict areas to ensure the recovery is inclusive and reaches all provinces,” he added.
This points to a focus on eastern provinces, where agriculture is seen as a driver of economic recovery and stabilization.
In its latest report on the DRC, published in March 2026, the World Bank said that between 2020 and 2024, about 71.9% of total loans went to private companies, mainly in mining and telecommunications. Agriculture receives less than 5% of bank credit.
Boaz Kabeya
Social tensions are mounting in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mining sector as the phased implementation of the country’s new guaranteed minimum interprofessional wage, known by its French acronym SMIG, begins to have tangible effects. Since May 3, 2026, labor protests have been reported at Metalkol SA, a subsidiary of Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), and at Ruashi Mining, owned by Metorex and Gécamines, over the rollout of the second phase of the SMIG, set at 21,500 Congolese francs (CDF).
According to Radio Okapi, the unrest is most visible at sites in Kolwezi and Lubumbashi, where workers are demanding that their salaries be adjusted in line with the new pay scale and are calling for broader improvements to working conditions. Employees have cited inequalities between local and expatriate staff, as well as what they describe as abusive dismissal practices and restrictions on union representation.
A dispute over the exchange rate used to convert salaries is also fueling the tensions. At Metalkol, worker representatives have accused the company of seeking to apply a rate of 1,800 CDF to the dollar — below the market rate, which is closer to 2,200 CDF — a move they say would effectively reduce workers’ real income.
A sharp increase in labor costs
Enacted under Decree No. 25/22 of May 30, 2025, the new SMIG introduced a phased increase in the minimum wage, rising from 7,075 CDF to 14,500 CDF in May 2025, then to 21,500 CDF starting in January 2026, marking an overall increase of more than 200%. The framework also maintains a wage compression ratio of 1 to 10, automatically pushing up all pay scales.
According to the Federation of Congolese Enterprises (FEC), the first phase of the increase nearly doubled payroll costs in several sectors. A mid-level manager previously earning about 70,500 CDF a day would now receive close to 145,000 CDF, equivalent to approximately $1,700 per month before benefits. Including allowances, total compensation can exceed $2,000.
If the second phase of 21,500 CDF is implemented while maintaining the current wage compression ratio, that same manager would earn more than $2,500 per month. “A level that is unsustainable for the Congolese economy,” the FEC said, warning that “the DRC cannot sustain a SMIG equivalent to that of Belgium without jeopardizing competitiveness and employment.”
The employers’ federation also argued that applying the SMIG uniformly across all sectors would amount to “condemning agriculture and forestry, already in dire straits.” The FEC has called for a more gradual and sector-specific implementation, citing in particular the need for a separate minimum wage for agriculture.
The government has maintained its stance. In January 2026, Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka reaffirmed the need to implement the revised SMIG of 21,500 CDF while calling for social dialogue within the framework of the National Labor Council.
The unrest at Metalkol and Ruashi Mining highlights a central challenge for the Congolese economy: balancing higher purchasing power with manageable business costs, in an environment marked by sharp sectoral disparities. Whether large extractive companies — generally better capitalized than other segments of the economy — can absorb the rise in labor costs is seen as a leading indicator for other sectors.
Ronsard Luabeya
Fuel prices in Beni, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's North Kivu province, have fallen sharply after several days of supply pressure. According to Radio Okapi, the price of a liter of gasoline dropped from 22,000 to 5,500 Congolese francs on May 3, 2026, a decline of roughly 75%.
The drop brings prices closer to official levels following a supply disruption that had severely disrupted fuel distribution across the city.
With several filling stations running dry, residents turned to informal channels, including street resellers, locally known as "Kadhafi," where prices had surged.
The current decline appears to reflect a gradual improvement in supply. It comes amid pressure from local actors, including community leaders, elected officials, and business operators, who had been calling for a quick resumption of deliveries.
A comparable situation had already been observed in March 2026, when a liter of gasoline was selling for around 8,000 Congolese francs on the parallel market, compared with roughly 2,500 francs under normal conditions. That spike had been attributed to the immobilization of fuel tankers in Kenya that were bound for Beni, Butembo, and Kasindi.
These developments are unfolding against a backdrop of nationwide fuel price adjustments. New fuel prices have been in effect across the DRC since April 17, 2026. In the eastern zone, the official price of a liter of gasoline is set at 4,400 Congolese francs, while diesel stands at 5,600 francs.
Despite the drop recorded in Beni, current prices remain above the official gasoline rate for the eastern zone, highlighting ongoing logistical costs and supply vulnerabilities in that part of the country.
Ronsard Luabeya
MainMoney launched a palm-based biometric payment system in Kinshasa on April 29, 2026, offering an alternative to cash-dominated transactions in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The system allows users to make payments without a bank card or mobile phone, using the palm of the hand as a unique identifier.
The technology relies on “Palm Vein” recognition, which analyzes the internal vein patterns of the hand to verify identity.
“The idea behind MainMoney is that your hand becomes your wallet,” Chief Executive Sylvain Mubenga said at the launch. “At least 29 million Congolese have a mobile money account, but cash still dominates transactions. We want to expand financial inclusion,” he added, according to Actualite.cd.
In a country where cash remains prevalent despite the growth of mobile money, the solution aims to simplify access to digital financial services. Users must first enroll their biometric data, which is then linked to a payment profile.
Financial inclusion on the rise
The system does not replace bank accounts but the tools used to access them, such as cards, phones or codes. It must be linked to a bank account, a mobile money account or a MainMoney wallet. Once activated, it enables payments directly at a terminal without the need for a physical device.
According to its developers, the technology is difficult to counterfeit because it relies on vein patterns inside the hand, unlike conventional fingerprint systems.
MainMoney is targeting both individuals and businesses. The terminals are designed for use in supermarkets, gas stations, healthcare facilities and workplaces, including for payroll management.
These applications have not yet been deployed at scale. For now, the solution is presented as a tool that can integrate with existing payment systems in a market dominated by mobile money and cash.
The launch comes as financial inclusion is improving. According to the National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2023–2028, published in July 2023, the inclusion rate stood at 38% in 2022. The central bank now estimates it at 50%, with a target of 65% by 2028.
Pierre Mokoko
The U.S. Treasury Department, through its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), has imposed sanctions on former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila, the agency said in late April 2026, citing efforts to counter actors accused of fueling instability in the country’s east.
In a statement, the Treasury said Kabila was sanctioned for “providing support to the March 23 Movement (M23) and the Congo River Alliance (AFC),” which Washington says are driving political instability and violent conflict in eastern DRC.
The department said the former president provided financial support to networks linked to the AFC and encouraged defections from the Congolese armed forces (FARDC), contributing to the worsening security situation in the east. In September 2025, a Congolese court sentenced Kabila to death in absentia on charges of complicity with the AFC/M23.
Defending Washington agreements
Following the designation, all of Kabila’s assets under U.S. jurisdiction have been frozen. U.S. individuals and companies are barred from engaging in transactions with him unless authorized. The measures also apply to entities he owns 50% or more, as well as to transactions that could facilitate financial or material support.
Washington has previously sanctioned military officials, business networks and armed groups linked to the conflict in eastern DRC. Targeting Kabila, however, marks a new step, as the U.S. administration moves against a central figure of the former Congolese government accused of influencing security dynamics in a region rich in strategic minerals.
“Those who continue to sow instability will be held accountable,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, adding that the United States would use its tools to uphold “the integrity of the Washington Accords,” which are intended to secure access to critical minerals.
“The Treasury Department will not hesitate to take action against groups that deny the United States and our allies access to the critical minerals vital for our national defense,” John K. Hurley, Treasury’s under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said during a previous round of sanctions.
Boaz Kabeya
The Office des voiries et drainage (OVD) has awarded a contract to Safrimex SARLU to rehabilitate and modernize 89.78 kilometres of roads in Mbuji-Mayi, in the eastern province of Kasaï-Oriental.
The provisional award, signed on April 23, 2026, by OVD Director General Victor Tumba Tshikela, values the contract at $317.37 million, including taxes. The document does not specify the scope of work. Based on the total road length, the project implies an average cost of about $3.53 million per kilometre.
According to the award notice, the process began in January 2026, when the OVD sought special authorisation to use a restricted tender. Approval was granted on Feb. 25, ahead of bid evaluation and the issuance of a no-objection clearance in April.
Several companies were invited to bid, including Safrimex SARLU, China Guangdong Provincial Changda Highway Engineering Co. Ltd, Colosse Construction Corp, Groupe Guang Ping International, Hong Feng, Bahari Engineering SARL, Janamapa, Koya SARLU and Constellation Business. Safrimex was provisionally selected.
Provisional award likely to be confirmed
The provisional award is expected to become final unless challenged by unsuccessful bidders. Under Congolese public procurement rules, bidders have five business days to file an appeal. If no appeal is lodged, or once any appeal is reviewed, the contract can be finalised and signed.
The award comes about two months after the same company delivered 35 kilometres of newly asphalted roads in Mbuji-Mayi. According to public media reports, the project was completed and accepted in February 2026 after 36 months of work. The cost of that earlier project was not disclosed in the sources reviewed.
Safrimex is part of the Socimex Group, founded in 1998 by entrepreneur Ibrahim Ahmad Issaoui. In addition to Safrimex, which focuses on construction and engineering, the group includes several other entities: Socimex, active in food imports and exports; Congo Oil and Derivatives, in the palm oil sector; Socitrans, which provides road transport between Matadi, Kinshasa and Bandundu; Central Motors, a distributor of Hyundai and Mazda vehicles; and Sonades, which operates in power and electrification.
Timothée Manoke
A group of Polish investors is considering setting up a mining equipment manufacturing plant in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the mining sector remains heavily dependent on imported machinery. The group presented the project to Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba at a meeting on April 29, 2026.
The delegation was led by Dawid Kostempski, a former local politician in Poland, and included Marie-Claire Kengo, president of the DRC-Poland Friendship and Cooperation Network. Their involvement highlights the project’s economic and diplomatic dimensions, although it remains at an early stage.
Focus of the talks
According to the Ministry of Mines, discussions focused on how to structure the investment project, which aims to establish a manufacturing plant for machinery used in mineral extraction and processing.
Beyond equipment production, the initiative includes a technical training and skills transfer component for Congolese executives and technicians. It is part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen local value creation and build an industrial base around the mining sector.
In the DRC, mining equipment supply relies heavily on imports. This dependence poses significant challenges in terms of costs, delivery times and technological control.
Companies such as CIS SARL supply and maintain equipment used at mining sites, while other firms, particularly in Lualaba, operate in engineering and technical support. However, the country still lacks a structured local industry for large-scale mining equipment manufacturing.
In that context, if it moves forward, the project led by Polish investors could introduce a largely undeveloped activity in the DRC: local manufacturing of mining equipment. For now, the project remains at an early stage, with details on the investment model, industrial partners, potential sites and implementation timeline yet to be clarified.
Boaz Kabeya
Dubai-based Paradigm Holdings announced on April 28, 2026, that it had signed a gold supply agreement with the Congolese government, as part of its international expansion in the precious metals sector. The Congolese authorities have not disclosed details of the deal.
According to Paradigm Holdings, the partnership aims to establish a formalized gold supply network from the DRC while strengthening the UAE’s role as a precious metals trading, refining and distribution hub. The company describes the agreement as its third government-backed partnership in Africa in less than two years.
The announcement does not specify the volumes involved, the duration of the agreement, the applicable tax framework or the identity of the Congolese signatory. It also provides no details on traceability mechanisms, which are considered essential in a sector vulnerable to smuggling, money laundering and the financing of armed groups.
Commercially, the UAE is already among the top destinations for Congolese gold, alongside South Africa. According to Congolese mining statistics for 2025, nearly three metric tons of gold were exported to the UAE, valued at more than $337 million.
Paradigm Holdings describes itself as a private investment group active in commodities, real estate and clean energy. The company says it is developing operations in the extraction, trading and management of precious metals, gemstones and rare earths, with a presence in the Middle East, Africa and South America.
The Primera Gold precedent
Since 2023, the DRC has sought to formalize part of its artisanal gold production through Primera Gold DRC, a joint venture between the Congolese state and an Emirati partner. The arrangement enabled the export of more than five metric tons of artisanal gold in 2023, worth more than $300 million, before Kinshasa reasserted full control over Primera Gold in late 2024 and renamed it DRC Gold Trading.
That partnership with the UAE was presented as part of an official strategy to combat fraud and smuggling, particularly in the country’s east. However, the Primera Gold model drew criticism over its lack of transparency and tax advantages, as well as doubts about its actual capacity to clean up supply chains. U.N. experts noted that the preferential conditions granted to Primera Gold created a near-monopoly over legal artisanal gold exports.
The arrival of Paradigm Holdings could mark a new chapter in the gold relationship between Kinshasa and the UAE. For the DRC, the issue goes beyond opening a new commercial outlet. The central question is whether this new corridor will genuinely increase formal exports, secure public revenues and improve traceability in a sector historically dominated by informal networks.
Ronsard Luabeya
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French renewable energy developer InnoVent is exploring an expansion into the Democratic Republic of Congo. ANAPI announced the move on April 28, 2026, after a delegation from the group began an exploratory visit on April 25.
Talks between InnoVent representatives and the agency focused on incentives for foreign investors. ANAPI said the company is interested in Congo’s energy potential as electricity demand rises and new capacity is needed.
The delegation requested details on incentives under the Investment Code, including tax and related benefits, as well as legal guarantees for investors.
ANAPI outlined the eligibility conditions, including setting up a company under Congolese law, submitting a structured investment plan, complying with environmental standards, and committing to local workforce training and value creation.
The agency said it is ready to support the investor throughout the process, from legal setup to project implementation.
According to ANAPI, InnoVent plans to start operations in the DRC before the end of 2026, with a first solar and wind plant in Kinshasa expected about 12 months after construction begins.
Founded in 2001 by Grégoire Verhaeghe, InnoVent develops and operates renewable energy infrastructure. The company operates in several African markets, including Namibia, Senegal, Morocco and Kenya.
The expansion comes as the DRC seeks to diversify its power mix and improve access to electricity, which remains limited. Fewer than a quarter of the population currently has access, according to official data, while the government targets 62.5% by 2030.
Ronsard Luabeya
The African Development Bank (AfDB) approved $48.83 million on April 29, 2026, in Abidjan, to fund a crisis response project for conflict-affected people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The financing supports the Crisis Response Project to Assist Affected Populations in the East, known by its French acronym PRECAPE, and targets Uvira in South Kivu, and Beni and Walikale in North Kivu.
The package includes a $33.91 million loan, alongside grants from the Transition Support Facility and the African Development Fund. The funding aims to address the immediate needs of crisis-affected communities while supporting the recovery of local economic activity.
The project will rehabilitate and equip several basic infrastructure facilities, including five vocational training centers, seven schools and seven health centers, as well as markets and water and sanitation facilities.
PRECAPE also includes measures to support employment and human capital. It will train 1,500 young people in high-demand trades, provide capacity-building support for 2,000 people, and offer psychosocial and medical assistance to 4,500 women survivors of gender-based violence.
According to the AfDB, more than 800,000 people, including internally displaced persons and host communities, are expected to benefit from the program.
The project will also explore innovative initiatives, including the tokenization of natural resources, notably gold and carbon, to mobilize alternative financing and improve incomes for rural communities.
This funding is part of a series of recent AfDB interventions in the DRC. In February 2026, the institution committed $49.6 million for the Regional Program to Support Infrastructure Development and the Enhancement of Transboundary Water Resources, known as PREDIRE, covering the provinces of North Ubangi, South Ubangi and Mongala.
Boaz Kabeya
A technical mission from the Sino-Congolese Infrastructure Company (SISC S.A.), which is implementing a Sicomines-funded program under the mines-for-infrastructure deal, is expected to visit Tshikapa, in Kasai province, in May 2026 to prepare for the rehabilitation of the local airport.
The announcement followed an April 27 meeting in Kinshasa between Governor Crispin Mukendi Bukasa and company officials, local media reported.
The mission will conduct preparatory work, including a site assessment, ahead of a possible launch of modernization works at the facility. Discussions focused on technical and organizational aspects of the project.
The start of construction depends on resolving several administrative issues, particularly those linked to a previously awarded contract, which must be clarified before work can begin.
Tshikapa airport has been closed since Nov. 22, 2025, after heavy rains rendered its runway unusable. Provincial authorities said its condition no longer allowed aircraft to land.
The governor of Kasai also referred to a rehabilitation project announced about a year ago, noting that a $400,000 pre-financing arrangement had not led to any work.
Tshikapa airport is among the infrastructure projects included in the Sino-Congolese program, though financing and implementation details are still being finalized. In 2025, discussions focused on the financial guarantees required for the project. The Agency for Steering, Coordination and Monitoring of Collaboration Agreements (APCSC) had sought support from a bank to help structure the financing.
Boaz Kabeya
A petroleum storage infrastructure project in the Grand Kasaï region has entered a new phase with the involvement of a private-sector partner.
On April 28, 2026, Hydrocarbons Minister Acacia Bandubola chaired a meeting with a delegation from Okapi International, in the presence of the Public-Private Partnership Advisory and Coordination Unit (UCPPP).
UCPPP’s presence suggests the project is being structured as a public-private partnership. However, no timeline has been announced and no detailed financing framework has been made public. Okapi International’s director general, Simplice Mulumba, nonetheless expressed optimism about the project’s prospects.
Securing supply
As early as January 2026, a joint team from the ministries of Hydrocarbons and Land Affairs was sent to Grand Kasaï to assess potential sites for the infrastructure. Key locations include Kabeya Kamwanga, Ndomba and Mwene-Ditu. The mission confirmed the project’s land and logistical feasibility.
The project includes petroleum storage centres aimed at building local reserves and ensuring supply, as well as modular stations to facilitate distribution in landlocked areas and reduce the risk of shortages. The broader goal is to create an integrated logistics chain that brings fuel closer to consumption zones and reduces reliance on distant supply networks.
Okapi International is described in sector records as a company operating in downstream petroleum activities, particularly in distribution and supply chains. Its involvement points to logistics and operational solutions tailored to local constraints.
The initiative is part of the Hydrocarbons Ministry’s 2026 priorities, which include expanding storage capacity, building new logistics infrastructure and rehabilitating existing facilities. It also builds on earlier announcements on the creation of new storage centres across the country to improve energy security and fuel availability.
Grand Kasaï, encompassing Kasaï Oriental, Kasaï Central, Kasaï, Lomami and Sankuru, remains a landlocked region far from main supply corridors, including maritime ports and logistics hubs in Katanga. For several years, petroleum operators have highlighted challenges affecting distribution in the region, citing limited storage capacity, reliance on long and costly supply routes, deteriorating roads and weak logistics capacity.
As early as 2022, recommendations were made to address these issues, including building storage centres, developing service stations in remote areas, rehabilitating roads and waterways, and strengthening transport capacity, particularly rail.
Ronsard Luabeya