News (946)
President Félix Tshisekedi outlined six priority areas to modernize the Democratic Republic of Congo’s postal and telecommunications sector and strengthen digital security at the opening of the first national conference on Posts and Telecommunications on Monday in Kinshasa.
The priorities include expanding infrastructure, updating the legal, regulatory and tax framework, improving service quality, promoting digital and financial inclusion, developing human capital, and strengthening technological sovereignty and digital security.
For the government, the challenge is no longer simply to connect more citizens, but also to exert greater control over key infrastructure, data and networks. The initiative comes as the country prepares its National Digital Plan 2026–2030 (PNN2) and its first National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, both aimed at positioning the DRC as a regional digital hub by 2030.
Connectivity
Expanding connectivity remains the most immediate priority. The government plans to accelerate fiber optic deployment, strengthen the national backbone, develop inter-provincial links and use satellite or hybrid solutions to reach remote areas. The goal is to reduce the wide access gap between urban centers and rural regions.
Reform of the regulatory and tax framework is also seen as critical. Tshisekedi called for a clearer and more attractive environment for private investment. The reform is widely expected in a sector where tax pressure is frequently cited as a major obstacle to network expansion and lower costs for users.
Digital inclusion is another priority. The government aims to bring rural populations, youth, women and small businesses further into the digital economy. This includes expanding digital education, seen as a driver of employability, innovation and competitiveness.
By placing technological sovereignty and digital security at the core of its roadmap, the government aims to turn the DRC into a digital nation by 2030, while strengthening protection for data, public systems and critical infrastructure.
PM
The total value of contracts reported by major companies in the Democratic Republic of Congo fell sharply in 2025, according to a statistical report by the Authority for the Regulation of Subcontracting in the Private Sector (ARSP), covering the 2023–2025 period.
After reaching $2.456 billion in 2024, the total dropped to $1.713 billion in 2025, a decline of about 30.2%. The $743 million contraction marks a reversal after growth between 2023 and 2024, when reported contracts rose from $2.001 billion to $2.456 billion.
The mining provinces of Lualaba and Haut-Katanga were the most affected. In Lualaba, reported contracts fell from $1.718 billion to $943.4 million in 2025, a drop of about 45%. In Haut-Katanga, they declined from $403 million to $246.6 million, down nearly 39%.
Diverging trends among major clients
The overall decline was uneven across key operators. Kamoa Copper showed a sharp break in the data. After reported contracts rose from $262.9 million in 2023 to $646 million in 2024, the figure fell to just $696,231 in 2025.
Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) also recorded a steep decline, with reported contracts dropping from $419 million in 2024 to $196 million in 2025, a fall of about 53%.
The report does not indicate whether these declines reflect reduced activity, underreporting, or data issues.
By contrast, Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM), one of the country’s major clients, posted growth, with reported contracts rising from $296.2 million in 2024 to $476.8 million in 2025, an increase of about 61%.
Sicomines also expanded its activity, with contracts increasing from $510.8 million to $627.1 million, up around 23%. Several subcontractors followed the trend. CRSN Construction Minière saw contracts rise from $224.4 million to $245.4 million, while Nenda Mbele SAS increased from $1.6 million to $7.7 million.
The data points to a widening gap among major operators. In 2025, TFM and Sicomines increased their reported volumes, while Kamoa and KCC posted sharp declines.
The report suggests the trend reflects not a uniform downturn in mining subcontracting, but a market shaped by variations in reporting practices, investment cycles and contract structures across companies.
Boaz Kabeya
The Democratic Republic of Congo's transport ministry announced Monday that Air Congo is set to receive a new ATR 72-600 aircraft on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
The announcement followed a meeting held Monday, April 27, between Vice Prime Minister and Transport Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba, Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew Bekele, and Air Congo Director General Mesfin Biru Weldegeorgis.
The ministry said the 70-seat aircraft will help strengthen the carrier's domestic operations, in a market where domestic air connectivity remains limited. The Congolese state holds a 51% stake in Air Congo.
New domestic routes
A few days before the transport ministry's announcement, Air Congo had announced new domestic routes, including Beni, Bunia, Isiro, Gbadolite and Kalemie, with a route to Bunia set to begin on May 1, 2026.
The incoming aircraft is the first of two new ATR 72-600s leased by Ethiopian Airlines for Air Congo's operations. Ethiopian Airlines holds a 49% stake in the Congolese carrier. In November 2025, ATR said the two aircraft were scheduled to enter service in February 2026.
The schedule has since slipped. In early March, Air Congo's director general told aviation trade publication Ch-aviation that the first delivery was now expected in early or mid-April 2026. He attributed the delay to several factors, including tests conducted by the manufacturer and visa difficulties faced by Ethiopian Airlines technicians and Ethiopian civil aviation authority personnel who needed to travel to France.
Timothée Manoke
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) plans to expand across the mining value chain in the Democratic Republic of Congo, focusing on developing investment-ready projects.
The strategy was outlined in a statement released on April 23, 2026, following a mining value chain forum held on April 21 in Lualaba province. The event brought together mining operators, subcontractors, financial institutions and public-sector stakeholders to discuss financing constraints in the sector.
Afreximbank says the DRC’s mining potential remains underfunded due to a shortage of bankable projects. To address this, the bank plans to deploy several instruments, including asset-backed financing to mobilize long-term capital and a project preparation facility to support projects early in their development. The aim is to turn mining opportunities into projects that meet structured finance requirements.
The bank is also expanding its scope beyond extraction to cover the broader mining ecosystem. The plan targets mining companies, subcontractors, logistics operators, energy providers and small and medium-sized enterprises. The shift reflects a broader view that value creation depends not only on natural resources, but also on infrastructure, services and local players around mining sites.
Strengthening the role of local banks
Afreximbank is also relying on Congolese banks to mobilize financing. It plans to expand co-financing and guarantee mechanisms to increase lending capacity while managing risk. The strategy aims to unlock more domestic capital and improve credit flows to strategic sectors.
The bank also intends to roll out trade finance tools, including export pre-financing and factoring, to improve liquidity for businesses—particularly SMEs involved in mining subcontracting. These instruments could help firms with limited access to credit expand operations and integrate more deeply into the value chain.
The initiative builds on Afreximbank’s existing operations in the DRC. The bank is involved in developing special economic zones focused on battery and electric vehicle production under a regional project with Zambia. It is also financing a 200-megawatt hydroelectric project on the Lufira River to support the mining sector’s energy needs, including technical, financial and legal structuring.
Ronsard Luabeya
Fonds de garantie de l'entrepreneuriat (FOGEC) has strengthened its partnership with Bisou Bisou microfinance institution through a $1 million guarantee to expand access to credit for women and young entrepreneurs.
According to a FOGEC statement published on April 24, 2026, the funds come from a private donation raised to support youth and women entrepreneurs. The amount has been placed in a fixed-term account with Bisou Bisou to serve as collateral for new loans.
Two financial products
Two financial products are covered under the arrangement. The first, called "Elubu ya mamans," targets women working in the informal catering sector, particularly those running small roadside eateries commonly known as "mamans malewa." It provides credit tailored to their business needs.
The second product, "Bilenge ya motuya," is aimed at young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35, as well as micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. It provides financing to help them stabilize or grow their businesses.
For FOGEC and Bisou Bisou, the arrangement is meant to address the financing needs of small entrepreneurs, who are often excluded from conventional credit markets due to insufficient collateral.
The initiative follows a first phase launched several months earlier in support of rural women, particularly those organized within the Réseau national des femmes rurales (RENAFER). A $2 million guarantee was announced at the time, with individual loans of up to $5,000.
Ronsard Luabeya
A Congolese civil society organization is calling for a broad judicial investigation into public procurement contracts at a fund created to compensate victims of Ugandan military operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Centre de recherche en finances publiques et développement local (CREFDL) issued the call after the Justice Ministry ordered the prosecutor-general at the Court of Cassation on April 17, 2026, to open an investigation into a contract awarded to a company called DIVO SARL.
In a statement published April 23, CREFDL urged authorities to broaden the investigation beyond that single contract to cover all public procurement by the Fonds de réparation et d'indemnisation des victimes des activités illicites de l'Ouganda en RDC (FRIVAO). The organization estimated the total value of contracts it considers irregular at $34.6 million for the period 2022 to 2025. Those payments, CREFDL said, were made in violation of public procurement law and should be examined by the courts.
CREFDL's call came as Chançard Bolukola, who served as FRIVAO's national coordinator between August 2024 and July 2025, remains detained. Bolukola was arrested on July 25, 2025, and faces charges including the alleged embezzlement of funds intended for victims and breaches of public procurement rules. CREFDL said the ongoing judicial proceedings align with the recommendations set out in its civil society investigation report published in September 2025.
$195 million received, 2% paid to victims
According to that report, FRIVAO received nearly $195 million between 2022 and 2024, part of which was designated to compensate victims of the Kisangani war. CREFDL said, however, that only $2.08 million had actually been paid to victims as of October 8, 2024, representing less than 2% of the $105.1 million allocated for that purpose.
The April 23 statement listed several contested payments: $14.9 million to Congo Energy for the rehabilitation of the Tshopo power plant, $9 million to SNEL for Kisangani's electrical grid, $4 million to the ICCN for Kisangani's zoological and botanical garden, and $1.75 million to OVDA Tshopo for a peace stabilization project.
The DIVO SARL contract, which prompted the Justice Ministry's original order, also appears on CREFDL's list. It involves an advance payment of $512,000 for the production of a documentary on the GENOCOST. In its April 17 statement, the Justice Ministry cited strong indications of irregularities, including the disbursement of more than $1 million, the absence of deliverables meeting contractual standards, and alleged violations of public financial management rules.
From his cell at Makala central prison, Bolukola disputes the account that the documentary cost $1.6 million and runs only six minutes. In a handwritten letter dated April 19, 2026, and relayed by Actualite.cd, he said the contract was instead worth $640,000 before taxes and that the film runs approximately one hour and 14 minutes. He also rejected the accusations against his management of the fund.
That dispute sharpens the stakes of the judicial investigation, which will need to establish the actual amount committed, the payments made, whether deliverables meet contractual standards, and who is responsible for managing the funds intended for victims.
Boaz Kabeya
DR Congo’s hydrocarbons minister has announced a plan to expand fuel storage capacity in Grand Équateur.
According to the ministry, the project involves reopening storage sites in Businga, North Ubangi province, and Akula, South Ubangi province, both inactive for more than two decades. The plan was announced after talks with SEP Congo and Cobil, two companies involved in fuel storage.
“Decisions have been made. We are about to begin an analysis phase with SEP Congo teams. Everyone is now aligned on reopening these sites,” said Malick Ndiaye, director general of SEP Congo.
The initiative follows earlier failed attempts. According to Radio Okapi, a plan to rehabilitate the Businga site was discussed with SEP Congo in 2019 but never implemented. The site is now reported to be in severe disrepair after years of inactivity.
Boaz Kabeya
Agro-industrial company Plantations et Huileries du Congo (PHC) has announced the exit of the Congolese state from its shareholding, following a recapitalization process launched in 2025 to strengthen its operational capacity.
According to PHC, the company sought a capital increase from shareholders to support its modernization strategy. The Congolese state, a minority shareholder with a 23.8% stake, did not participate due to a lack of allocated budget from the Ministry of Portfolio.
PHC described the move as a “responsible and voluntary” decision, taken in compliance with OHADA law, the company’s bylaws and applicable governance rules.This move strengthens the position of Kuramo Capital, which has held a majority stake in PHC since 2020, previously at around 76.2%.
A shareholder since 2017, Kuramo Capital said it has supported PHC’s turnaround through investments aimed at modernizing operations and improving productivity. The investor said production has doubled over five years with only a limited increase in cultivated area, while the number of women employed has tripled.
PHC has operated in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 1911 and operates three industrial sites at Boteka, Yaligimba and Lokutu. The company controls more than 100,000 hectares of concessions, including around 30,000 hectares of oil palm plantations, and employs more than 11,000 people.
Production has remained relatively stable in recent years. After producing around 80,000 metric tons of palm oil in 2023, PHC is targeting 81,000 metric tons in 2025, with a goal of reaching 100,000 metric tons by 2026.
The company also plans to develop its own palm oil refinery to expand local processing and better serve the domestic market.
Ronsard Luabeya
China’s Zijin Mining is developing a logistics corridor to connect its Manono lithium project in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Tanganyika province to ports in Tanzania, and is nearing completion of four cargo vessels to operate on Lake Tanganyika.
Construction of the vessels was more than 95% complete as of March 2026, according to Tanzanian newspaper The Citizen. Two had been completed, a third was awaiting approval from the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC), and a fourth had just been launched and is due for completion in July 2026.
Zijin said in November 2025 it had launched the first bulk carrier in the series, Golden Voyage No. 1, describing it as a key link in a future export route between the DRC and Tanzania. Each vessel measures 70.08 meters in length and 15 meters in width, with a carrying capacity of 2,000 tons and a range of 1,000 nautical miles.
The ships were built in modular sections in China by Shandong Xinneng Shipbuilding and shipped to Tanzania for final assembly at the port of Karema. Golden Voyage Logistics, a Zijin subsidiary, applied for space at the port to launch the project in October 2023, according to The Citizen.
Multimodal logistics corridor
The fleet will primarily support the supply chain for the Manono lithium project. Output will be transported by road over roughly 440 km from Manono to Kalemie, then loaded onto vessels on Lake Tanganyika bound for Kigoma, before being moved overland to Dar es Salaam for export.
The lake operation forms part of a broader logistics strategy. In August 2025, Zijin signed a concession agreement with Tanzania to operate the port of Kigoma and the Malindi terminal at the port of Dar es Salaam, alongside a modernization program covering warehouses, storage areas and cargo-handling equipment.
On the industrial side, the Manono project is designed for an annual mining and processing capacity of five million tons of ore. The facility is expected to process 500,000 tons of spodumene concentrate to produce about 95,170 tons of crude lithium sulfate per year, with commissioning scheduled for June 30, 2026.
In this context, deploying the vessels on Lake Tanganyika is key to securing Zijin’s export corridor from eastern DRC to the Indian Ocean.
Timothée Manoke
Carrigrès, the construction aggregates quarry owned by the TEXAF group, closed 2025 with revenue down roughly 17% to 4.2 million euros, from approximately 5 million euros in 2024. The decline came even as demand picked up in the second half of the year, which was not enough to offset weaker market conditions.
The group attributed the drop primarily to a roughly 26% fall in the average selling price of its products. That pressure hurt the unit's performance, which ended the year with a net loss of 20,000 euros, according to the group's annual results, despite a roughly 10% increase in sales volumes.
TEXAF describes the business as particularly volatile, given its dependence on construction market conditions and competition. That volatility is reflected in the unit's recent performance. In 2023, the quarry benefited from strong demand and firm prices, lifting revenue to approximately 6.29 million euros, even as volumes sold fell around 4% from 2022. In 2024, revenue then dropped roughly 19%, amid what the group described as uncertainty over public investment.
Despite the 2025 results, TEXAF said it is continuing to invest in the business. The group said in its report that it has already paid a deposit on a new screen and crusher for the quarry, aiming to improve operational performance.
The Carrigrès quarry, which the group has operated since the 1950s, has an estimated annual capacity of 600,000 tons. The group also estimates recoverable reserves at around 25 million tons. The quarry produces a range of aggregates for the construction sector, from rubble stone to crushed sand, as well as various types of gravel and chippings used in concrete, road construction and civil engineering.
The group noted, however, that part of the quarry's land is illegally occupied by squatters, a situation that could limit future expansion.
Timothée Manoke
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Paycode Fintech Congo has signed an agreement with two industry associations to lead the technical rollout of a digital microfinance platform in the Democratic Republic of Congo, under a World Bank-supported initiative known as the Transforme project.
The accord, signed on April 15, 2026, in Kinshasa, brings together the local subsidiary of Paycode, an African fintech specializing in digital payments and biometric identity, the Association nationale des institutions de microfinance (ANIMF) and the Association professionnelle des coopératives d'épargne et de crédit (Aprocec).
The agreement builds on a contract signed in February 2025 between the Transforme project and a consortium comprising Paycode Fintech Congo, Banktech Software Services Limited and Hong Kong Top Wise Communications. That contract covers the digitization of the microfinance sector and the supply of 10,000 payment terminals; financial terms were not disclosed.
Scope of the Platform
According to a statement from the Transforme project, the initiative aims to modernize microfinance institutions (MFIs) and savings and credit cooperatives (COOPECs) while integrating them into the formal financial system. The agreement mandates Paycode to handle the operational and technical implementation of an integrated platform.
The platform is expected to include a core banking system, an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution, a card payment module and the issuance of Mosolo payment cards. The goal is to enable MFIs and COOPECs to connect to the national payment switch, a key step toward their integration into the formal financial system and the broader adoption of electronic payments.
The solution will rely on a full technology stack including servers, storage capacity, security devices and telecommunications networks. Paycode will also provide hosting, systems maintenance, user training and merchant onboarding to support local adoption of the tools.
As part of this framework, the company is developing the e-Dapt platform, designed to address the specific challenges of the Congolese market. It is expected to support bulk payment processing, batch clearing and settlement, as well as real-time offline transactions via biometric cards suited to areas with limited connectivity.
Terminal Deployment
The project also calls for the deployment of 10,000 electronic point-of-sale terminals across the DRC's 145 territories. The devices will incorporate biometric identification solutions and will be paired with multi-application cards compliant with EMV standards (Europay, Mastercard and Visa).
According to the Transforme project, the initiative is expected to improve access to financial services, formal savings and credit for small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly in trade, agriculture and services. It is also part of a national strategy to reduce cash usage in favor of electronic payments.
The DRC's financial inclusion rate has risen from 38.5% in 2022 to 50% currently, an increase largely driven by the rollout of mobile payment solutions. This trend aligns with the implementation of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2023-2028, adopted in July 2023, and is supported by efforts to strengthen payment infrastructure and instruments.
Ronsard Luabeya
The airport in Bunia, capital of Ituri province, has entered a new phase of operations, with its upgraded runway now able to handle larger jet aircraft, including Airbus models, authorities said.
For years, air traffic at Bunia was limited by the technical constraints of its old runway.
The upgrade was demonstrated on April 20, 2026, when Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation (CAA) landed a flight at the airport. Passengers and crew praised the improved runway, now extended and suitable for jet operations.
The work is part of a rehabilitation and modernization project launched in June 2022. It was carried out by Mont Gabaon SARLU under the supervision of the Bureau central de coordination (BCECO), at a cost of more than $48 million, according to the Finance Ministry.
The project included extending the runway to 2,500 meters, widening it, expanding the apron, and building a new terminal and control tower.
Initially scheduled for completion within 36 months, the project was delayed by technical and logistical challenges, including soil conditions and material supply issues. The airport remained operational throughout, supporting humanitarian and cargo operations.
With the upgrade complete, Bunia airport is now equipped to handle larger aircraft, which could boost passenger and freight traffic. The modernization is also expected to improve the province’s connectivity with the country’s main economic centers and strengthen its integration into the national economy.
Boaz Kabeya
French public port authority Haropa Port has signaled interest in providing technical assistance for the development of river transport along the Kisangani-Kinshasa corridor in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The possibility was discussed during a meeting held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, when Vice Prime Minister and Transport Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba received French Ambassador to the DRC Rémi Maréchaux. Representatives from the French Development Agency (AFD) and Haropa Port also attended.
Haropa Port is a French public institution and the largest river-maritime port complex on the Seine axis, bringing together the ports of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris. It is France’s leading port and the fourth-largest in northern Europe by tonnage, with global maritime connections. The group serves a hinterland including the Seine Valley and the greater Paris region, representing a market of about 25 million people.
Internationally, Haropa Port develops partnerships focused primarily on technical cooperation and sharing port and logistics expertise. In Africa, the group has established collaborations with the Autonomous Port of Pointe-Noire in Congo and the Port of Kribi in Cameroon. These partnerships aim to improve port performance, digitalize operations and develop integrated logistics solutions.
In the case of the DRC, discussions are still at an early stage. Haropa Port’s interest is limited to technical support, and no concrete project or formal commitment has been announced.
Boaz Kabeya
The Democratic Republic of Congo's rural electrification agency signed a commercial contract on April 21, 2026, with German company Off-Grid Europe to deploy solar photovoltaic mini-grids across the country.
According to a statement from the National Agency for Rural and Peri-Urban Electrification and Energy Services (ANSER), the agreement covers a €25 million project. The first phase includes the installation of 8.5 megawatt-peak capacity, expected to benefit 27,700 households across six localities.
ANSER said the deal represents a pilot phase of a broader program aimed at electrifying 27 agglomerations nationwide. The initiative is part of the national solar mini-grid program designed to accelerate access to electricity in rural and peri-urban areas.
At this stage, the agreement with Off-Grid Europe marks a key commercial step in the project, which will still require further technical and operational planning.
Based in Germany, Off-Grid Europe says it specializes in off-grid energy solutions. Founded in 2010, it designs, installs and maintains photovoltaic systems combined with battery storage for areas not connected to the national grid.
The company reports projects in Africa, including in Senegal, and operations in Nigeria, Cameroon and Guinea focused on autonomous energy systems.
With this agreement, ANSER continues its strategy of mobilizing technical and financial partners to expand rural electrification in a country where access to electricity remains limited outside major urban centers.
Ronsard Luabeya