News (719)
- Kinshasa authorities said the city is negotiating a new waste management partnership with Averda.
- Technical studies are set to begin on Jan. 7 ahead of work expected in coming weeks.
- The move revives a failed 2017 contract that stalled over financial guarantees and equipment delivery.
Lebanese waste management company Averda is moving toward a partnership with the city-province of Kinshasa to improve waste management in the Congolese capital, which has faced chronic sanitation problems for decades.
Kinshasa Governor Daniel Bumba met Averda executives on Jan. 6, 2026, alongside provincial sanitation officials.
The governor’s office said the meeting aimed to lay the groundwork for a partnership designed to reduce persistent urban waste and improve living conditions for residents.
The governor’s office said technical studies are due to begin on Jan. 7, 2026, ahead of the effective launch of works in the coming weeks.
The initiative forms part of the “Kinshasa Ezo Bonga” (“Kinshasa Is Changing”) program, which the provincial executive is implementing to modernize urban services and strengthen local governance.
Return after failed 2017 contract
The project marks a renewed attempt at cooperation between Kinshasa and Averda following an earlier contract signed in 2017 that produced no tangible results.
The previous partnership collapsed over an administrative dispute.
Averda requested financial guarantees and an advance payment, while the provincial government awaited the delivery of equipment promised to start operations.
Averda, which was founded in 1964 and is headquartered in Dubai, presents itself as one of the leading waste management and recycling companies in emerging markets.
The group said it serves more than 60,000 public- and private-sector clients, ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises to large institutions.
Averda said its activities include household waste collection, street cleaning, waste sorting and recycling, composting, and the secure disposal of hazardous waste, including strictly regulated medical and chemical waste.
The company operates across Gulf countries and several African markets, including the Republic of Congo, Gabon, Angola, South Africa, and Morocco.
This article was initially published in French by Ronsard Luabeya
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
- Ivanhoe Mines said total investment in the Kamoa-Kakula copper smelter reached $1.1 billion.
- The figure exceeded the $700 million estimate announced in 2021.
- Power infrastructure, including Inga II rehabilitation, accounted for a significant share of costs.
Ivanhoe Mines said total investment in the new smelter at the Kamoa-Kakula copper complex reached $1.1 billion, as the company announced the first production of copper anodes.
The company linked the start-up of the smelter to the full capital deployment in a statement accompanying the production milestone.
Robert Friedland, founder and executive co-chairman of Ivanhoe Mines, said the event marked “the culmination of a $1.1 billion investment.”
The $1.1 billion figure exceeded the capital cost estimate Ivanhoe Mines disclosed during the project’s early development stages.
In a statement dated Nov. 18, 2021, Ivanhoe Mines said expected capital expenditure for the smelter stood “in the region of $700 million,” and the company said operating cash flows from Kamoa-Kakula would fund the project.
Ivanhoe Mines did not explicitly state the reasons for the gap between the 2021 estimate and the 2026 investment figure.
However, the $1.1 billion total appeared to include ancillary infrastructure costs, even though the company built the smelter according to the same design outlined in 2021.
Ivanhoe Mines constructed a direct-to-blister smelter with nominal capacity of 500,000 tonnes per year of blister copper, alongside sulfuric acid by-product production and emissions standards aligned with those of the International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank Group.
To enable initial anode production, Ivanhoe Mines not only built the smelter but also installed an uninterruptible power supply system.
The company said the 60-megawatt system could provide up to two hours of instant backup power, protecting the smelter from voltage fluctuations on the Democratic Republic of Congo’s national grid.
In parallel, the company required 50 megawatts of clean electricity to commission the smelter.
To secure that supply, Ivanhoe Mines rehabilitated turbine five at the Inga II hydroelectric dam, which has total installed capacity of 178 megawatts.
Kamoa Copper, owner of the Kamoa-Kakula complex, estimated the investment at $450 million, including ongoing grid modernization works.
This article was initially published in French by Boaz Kabeya
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
- DR Congo awarded a $7.46 million contract to Belgian firm Castillo Valere to supply 100,000 pairs of license plates.
- The government set vehicle registration fees at up to $115, with a 50% surcharge for corporate entities.
- Authorities plan to roll out the plate change nationwide from late December 2026.
On January 6, 2026, the Democratic Republic of Congo implemented a new vehicle license plate system. Belgian company Castillo Valere will manufacture the plates.
Documents reviewed by Bankable showed that authorities awarded the supply contract to Castillo Valere in August 2025. The contract totaled $7,456,416 for 100,000 pairs of plates, implying a unit cost of $74.5 per pair.
Authorities awarded the contract following a public tender process that sparked debate over procedural compliance and transparency.
However, market participants described Castillo Valere as a reference supplier in Belgium’s license plate market. The company already operates in Africa, including in Côte d’Ivoire and Mauritania.
Officials from the Ministry of Finance, cited by Top Congo FM, said the Prime Minister must still validate the full technical specifications of the new plates by decree before they carry full legal effect.
Meanwhile, the General Directorate of Taxes (DGI) said the new plate was “designed in line with international standards.”
In 2023, the Public Expenditure Observatory (ODEP) and the Congolese League Against Corruption (LICOCO) accused the previous plate supplier of producing plates using Congo-Brazzaville’s country code “CGO.”
The organizations said the correct code for the Democratic Republic of Congo was “COD.”
Controversies
Tax authorities said the reform aimed to improve driver security, standardize the national vehicle registration system, and strengthen police road controls. Authorities also said the reform would increase state revenue.
A Finance Ministry decree signed in November 2025 set registration-related fees at $115 for a first registration, $72 for a plate change, $24 for vehicle ownership transfer, $54 for a duplicate pair of plates, $30 for a duplicate half-pair, $24 for a duplicate registration certificate, and $24 for an address change on the certificate. The decree increased all fees by 50% when operations involved legal entities.
The launch of the new plates triggered strong reactions among Congolese citizens. Critics questioned the administration’s capacity to deliver the new plates, as authorities still struggled to fulfill previous orders.
Observers said Castillo Valere now faced pressure to demonstrate its ability to produce and deliver plates quickly.
Owners of existing plates also challenged the legality of the operation. They cited the Congolese Highway Code, which prohibits re-registration of vehicles already in circulation.
However, Finance Ministry officials said the process involved only a plate replacement, not a re-registration, and did not alter the original vehicle registration data. Authorities said this phase would begin from late December 2026.
This article was initially published in French by Timothée Manoke
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
- DR Congo signed a ministerial declaration on Dec. 19, 2025, to extend the Nacala rail corridor toward its borders.
- The project targets an integrated rail network of about 2,400 kilometers linking Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, and potentially southern DR Congo.
- The initiative aims to cut transport costs, shorten transit times, and boost regional trade competitiveness.
The Democratic Republic of Congo signed a ministerial declaration on Dec. 19, 2025, with Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia to extend the Nacala railway corridor toward Congolese borders. The extension would give DR Congo rail access to the Indian Ocean through Mozambique’s port of Nacala.
The project plans to create an integrated rail network of about 2,400 kilometers linking Chipata in eastern Zambia to Malawi and Mozambique. The plan also includes a potential extension into southern DR Congo.
Transport and infrastructure ministers from the four countries said the corridor will reduce transport costs, shorten transit times, and strengthen export competitiveness. They also said the project should stimulate industrial growth, improve food security, and consolidate regional value chains.
The ministerial declaration confirms the commitment of the signatory countries to mobilize joint financing and attract strategic partners. It also provides for the harmonization of policies, technical standards, and regulatory frameworks to ensure smooth cross-border rail operations.
The governments plan to finalize an implementation framework in early 2026. The framework will define governance structures, financing models, and construction phases.
Mozambique’s Minister of Transport and Logistics João Matlombe said the next step will involve signing an agreement to appoint a strategic partner for the construction of the railway line and logistics infrastructure. He said authorities plan this step for the first quarter of 2026.
The port of Nacala, located in northern Mozambique, serves as a strategic maritime trade hub in eastern and southern Africa. The port handled 1.4 million tonnes of cargo in 2024, equivalent to 100,000 twenty-foot equivalent units. Mozambican authorities projected traffic of 1.8 million tonnes, or 115,100 TEUs, for 2025.
This article was initially published in French by Ronsard Luabeya
Afdapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
- NIU Invest granted Critical Metals a £2.1 million ($2.84 million) convertible loan.
- The funding will support operations at the Molulu copper-cobalt project in the DRC.
- Critical Metals targets first mineral sales from Molulu by mid-2026.
NIU Invest SE, the majority shareholder of Critical Metals, has granted the company a loan of £2.1 million, equivalent to about $2.84 million, to finance its activities, notably at the Molulu copper and cobalt project in the Haut-Katanga province of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The company announced the financing on December 31, 2025. The loan has an 18-month maturity and carries an annual interest rate of 10%, payable at the end of the term.
According to the disclosed terms, the loan takes the form of a convertible bond. This structure allows NIU Invest SE to convert the loan into equity in Critical Metals at any time and under certain conditions.
NIU Invest has used similar instruments to gradually increase its stake in the company. Its participation has now reached 69.62%, giving it effective control over Critical Metals.
The financing provides short-term relief for Critical Metals, whose Molulu project—70% owned by the company—has yet to generate commercial sales. The company remains loss-making.
For the financial year ended June 30, 2025, Critical Metals reported losses of about £2.4 million. This marked a reduction of roughly 13% compared with the previous financial year, when losses stood near £2.8 million.
According to the financial report, the improvement primarily reflects a reduction of about 25% in salary expenses. The company also implemented significant workforce cuts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly among technical staff.
Cost-cutting measures extended to senior management. Since January 1, 2025, remuneration for the chief executive position has been reduced by as much as 30%.
First Sales Expected in 2026
Alongside its financial restructuring, Critical Metals has undergone several leadership changes. Russell Fryer stepped down as chief executive on September 4, 2025, and Ali Farid Khwaja replaced him. Khwaja subsequently resigned on December 16, 2025.
Since then, Danilo Lange has served as interim chief executive.
In its announcement, the company described Lange as an internationally experienced executive with more than 25 years of experience across the mining, consumer goods and marketing sectors. He previously held senior roles at companies including Yahoo and Red Bull and served as chief executive of Auriant Mining AB, a Swedish mining company listed on Nasdaq in the United States.
Critical Metals said his profile suits the company’s transition phase, as the board continues its search for a permanent chief executive.
The loan from NIU Invest again signals the majority shareholder’s confidence in the Molulu project, despite the company’s continued financial losses since launch.
The funding secures short-term operational financing while the company prepares for a ramp-up in activity.
According to Critical Metals’ most recent report, the first mineral sales from the Molulu mine are now expected by mid-2026.
This article was initially published in French by Timothée Manoke
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
- The mines minister partially and temporarily lifted the suspension on artisanal copper-cobalt processing entities in Lualaba.
- A compliance review found all processing entities in violation of the Mining Code and regulations.
- Authorities will condition any permanent lifting on full regulatory compliance.
The Democratic Republic of Congo partially eased restrictions on artisanal copper-cobalt processing in Lualaba, the country’s main hub for artisanal activity in the sector.
Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba lifted “partially and temporarily” the suspension of mining and commercial activities for artisanal mineral processing entities in the copper-cobalt value chain operating in Lualaba. The ministry announced the decision in a statement published on January 5, 2026, following compliance inspections conducted in Kolwezi.
“At the end of the commission’s work (established on December 26), organized into three sub-commissions (administrative and legal, technical, and traceability and compliance), the commission found violations of the Mining Code and Mining Regulations by all processing entities,” the statement said.
The minister framed the decision as a transitional measure, allowing operators time to regularize their status. “The maintenance or definitive lifting of the suspension will remain conditional on the effective regularization of each processing entity,” the document added.
#RDC_MINES | COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE pic.twitter.com/06YGkQgwcv
— Ministère des Mines - RDC (@MinMinesRDC) January 5, 2026
According to the statement, authorities will notify each processing entity within 72 hours of publication. The individual notices will detail corrective measures required to address administrative, technical, and traceability breaches and will specify, where applicable, financial penalties payable under current mining law.
However, the partial lifting does not apply to Luilu Resources. The ministry said the company failed to present credible documentation on technical operations and mineral traceability during the review. Authorities ordered the company to appear again before the commission in Lubumbashi within three days, with the required documents, or face sanctions proportionate to the seriousness of the violations.
Transitional Measure for Haut-Katanga
Authorities also adopted a transitional measure for Haut-Katanga, another province with significant artisanal copper-cobalt activity. Pending inspection results, authorities authorized processing entities on a temporary basis to receive minerals already present at legal or tolerated artisanal sites.
Provincial services will supervise the operation, including the provincial mining division, the provincial directorate of SAEMAPE, the provincial ministry of Mines, and representatives of cooperatives and traders.
Since December 19, 2025, authorities have suspended activities of all artisanal mineral processing entities in the copper-cobalt sector nationwide. The mines minister said the suspension forms part of the implementation of the roadmap of the National Commission to Combat Mining Fraud.
The measure aims to clean up the artisanal mineral supply chain and ensure compliance with OECD due diligence principles and the national traceability manual.
This article was initially published in French by Ronsard Luabeya
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s regulator has extended the deadline for using cobalt export quotas to March 31, 2026, from the last quarter of 2025, according to a statement reported by Reuters on Wednesday.
The move eases uncertainty caused by bottlenecks in DRC’s new cobalt export process. After imposing an embargo on shipments of the battery metal in February, Kinshasa introduced an export quota system in October. Under that system, 18,125 metric tons of cobalt were allocated for export between October and December 2025.
Several companies were unable to use their quotas because the regulatory framework does not allow the transfer or deferral of shipments. Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba said recently that cobalt exports had “resumed,” without providing details on volumes or companies involved.
CMOC, a major cobalt producer in DRC with a fourth-quarter 2025 export quota of 6,650 tons, said the first shipments were unlikely to depart before January. Administrative procedures extended into the final weeks of 2025, including sampling under the new quota system and customs payments.
While the extension removes uncertainty over unused 2025 quotas, other challenges remain for the Congolese government, which must show it can implement the new framework sustainably. The February embargo, imposed amid a surplus market that had weighed on prices, coincided with a surge in cobalt prices in 2025.
Even if the policy succeeds in supporting prices, Kinshasa must manage the risk of substitution. Some analysts warn that restrictions on Congolese supply could prompt manufacturers to accelerate efforts to reduce cobalt use in electric vehicle batteries.
Emiliano Tossou
Equity BCDC, the Congolese subsidiary of Kenyan banking group Equity Group, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Special Fund for the Promotion of Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment (FSPEEJ) on December 27, 2025, the bank said in a statement. The agreement aims to boost financing and support for microenterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises, mostly run by young entrepreneurs in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The bank said the memorandum formalizes the two parties’ intention to work together to facilitate access to financing for these businesses nationwide, while providing technical support focused on financial inclusion and financial education. No timeline has been set for a definitive agreement.
For Equity BCDC, the initiative is part of its strategy to promote socio-economic prosperity. For the FSPEEJ, the planned collaboration represents a “major step in consolidating the entrepreneurial ecosystem for young Congolese.”
During the signing ceremony, the institution handed over business formalization documents to several young entrepreneurs. The move is seen as essential, enabling them to access formal finance, partnerships and structured markets.
The formalization drive resulted from a collaboration between the FSPEEJ and the One-Stop Shop for Business Creation (GUCE). The beneficiaries, mainly from Kinshasa and Matadi in Kongo Central province, make up the program’s first cohort.
Initially planned for 500 businesses, the pilot phase led to the formalization of 343 entrepreneurs. According to the FSPEEJ, this first cohort signals the start of a nationwide effort to professionalize and sustain youth-led entrepreneurial initiatives.
Launched on November 15, 2025, the program aims to formalize 5,000 businesses run by young people across all provinces of the DRC, divided into ten cohorts.
Created in 2018, the FSPEEJ’s mandate is to mobilize financial resources and deploy mechanisms to promote youth entrepreneurship, employment access and project financing. The fund operates through loans, guarantees, participatory financing and equity investments in high-potential projects.
Ronsard Luabeya
Vietnam’s Vingroup has provided further details on a planned green mobility project in Kinshasa, following a preliminary agreement signed with the city in October.
In a Dec. 29 statement, Vingroup said it signed a trilateral memorandum of understanding on Dec. 24 with Kinshasa’s provincial ministry in charge of transport and urban mobility and a Congolese company, Exposure Sarl. The memorandum sets out a framework for cooperation to develop a modern, sustainable and accessible urban transport system.
Vingroup, through its electric vehicle unit VinFast, plans to introduce between 60,000 and 120,000 electric vehicles to the local market. This includes 10,000 to 20,000 cars and 50,000 to 100,000 scooters. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to develop a full green mobility ecosystem in Kinshasa.
Roadmap
The initial phase of the project, running through the end of the first quarter of 2026, is expected to deploy an initial fleet of about 500 electric buses and 1,000 electric cars for public transport operations. The parties have agreed on a roadmap covering the period from the signing of the memorandum to the end of Q1 2026.
Under the plan, Exposure Sarl will be responsible for preparing a detailed business plan, including vehicle acquisition, the development of maintenance and repair infrastructure for electric vehicles, and the launch of the administrative and legal procedures required for import, distribution and operations.
Over the same period, VinFast will submit detailed technical and commercial proposals for fleets of electric buses, cars and scooters intended for the Kinshasa market. A dedicated authority will be appointed to manage and oversee the electric bus fleet, the statement said.
Kinshasa will propose sites for the installation of charging infrastructure, as previously announced in October. It will also work on tax incentives and a regulatory framework to support the adoption of green mobility solutions, while ensuring a reliable electricity supply for the project.
Complete green ecosystem
The announcement follows Vingroup’s ambitions outlined in October 2025, when the group discussed the gradual conversion of around 300,000 internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles in Kinshasa.
"The deployment of green and smart mobility solutions will gradually transform Kinshasa’s urban transport landscape and create long-term value by improving residents’ quality of life and supporting the city’s sustainable development goals, Phuong Nguyen," CEO of Vingroup Africa, said.
The parties also plan to develop a wide network of charging stations and authorised after-sales service centres to ensure operational stability and user convenience. The project includes training programmes for drivers, technicians and on-site operational staff, as well as technical support for the design of electrified transport infrastructure.
Beyond mobility
Limited information is available on the Congolese partner Exposure Sarl. At the signing of the memorandum, the company was represented by Fely Samuna, who is also managing director of Kerith Resources. Kerith Resources is the Congolese partner of Japanese multinational Asia Minerals Limited in a manganese mining and processing project in Kongo Central province.
The signing comes weeks after specialised economic media reported a planned Vingroup investment of about $28 million in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the creation of a local subsidiary, Vingroup DRC Holdings Sarl. The subsidiary is expected to be based in Kinshasa and to develop projects, including in real estate.
Projects discussed at the October 2025 signing between Vingroup and Kinshasa also included urban expansion. The group expressed interest in a 6,300-hectare urban development project comprising residential areas, villas, apartments, hospitals, schools, shopping malls, hotels, leisure facilities and a future administrative district for ministries and government agencies. According to VinFast, the city would provide the land for the project free of charge.
Timothée Manoke
Copper prices neared $13,000 a tonne on the London Metal Exchange on Monday, climbing as much as 6.6% to $12,960, Bloomberg reported. Prices later steadied around $12,920 in Asian trading.
The metal has gained more than 15% this month, driven by expectations that the United States could impose tariffs on refined copper. Ahead of any such measures, traders have stepped up shipments to the U.S. market, tightening inventories elsewhere. On Comex, U.S. copper futures have been trading at a premium to LME prices.
The rally follows comments earlier this month from analysts at Citigroup, who said copper prices could rise above $13,000 a tonne by the second quarter of 2026. “We remain convinced that copper has upside into 2026 amid several supportive tailwinds, including improving fundamentals and a more favourable macroeconomic environment,” the bank said, forecasting a 2.5% increase in global end-use consumption next year.
Similar views were expressed by Gregory Shearer, head of base and precious metals strategy at J.P. Morgan. “All in all, we think these unique dynamics of disjointed inventory and acute supply disruptions tightening the copper market add up to a bullish set up for copper, and are enough to push prices above $12,000/mt in the first half of 2026,” he said.
Concerns over global copper supply have intensified following several incidents this year. In May, Ivanhoe Mines, which operates one of the world’s largest copper projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo, reported a seismic event that prompted it to cut its production guidance for 2025 and 2026. While the company had initially targeted output of at least 500,000 tonnes in 2025, it now expects production to peak at around 420,000 tonnes, a level also projected for 2026.
Meanwhile, a landslide at Indonesia’s Grasberg mine, the world’s second-largest copper operation, forced Freeport-McMoRan to slash its planned 2026 output by 35%.
Louis-Nino Kansoun
More...
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has retired 2,000 eligible civil servants as part of a plan to streamline its public administration, the ministry in charge of the civil service said.
Public Service Minister Jean-Pierre Lihau announced the move in a statement dated Dec. 18, saying the retirements affected all government departments, job categories and provinces to ensure balance and fairness.
Those retired include 58 senior officials, comprising secretaries-general, inspectors-general and senior medical officers, as well as 232 directors, 285 division heads, 106 office heads, 716 first-class administrative staff and 603 lower-grade execution staff.
Lihau said the government was adopting a gradual approach in line with available financial resources. The aim, he said, was to restore civil servants’ right to a dignified retirement, turning it into a legitimate period of rest after long service rather than a source of hardship, as had often been the case in the past.
He said retirement notices and end-of-career allowance payments were already being processed and that the entire operation must be completed by Dec. 31, 2025. He added that withholding salaries or benefits before official notification by his ministry was strictly prohibited.
On the management of vacant posts, Lihau said they would not be opened to external recruitment. He also barred interim appointments by retired staff and prohibited the hiring of individuals without an official registration number or those who are not career civil servants, in accordance with existing law.
Beyond this initial phase, the minister said that from January 2026 the government plans to retire at least 30,000 civil servants each year. As of July 2025, around 314,000 state employees met the legal criteria for retirement, according to official figures.
In response, the government has adopted a ten-year retirement plan covering the period from 2025 to 2035. The plan includes a proposed partnership with commercial banks, presented as an innovative mechanism to speed up the process.
Under the proposal, banks would advance end-of-career allowances to retirees, while the state would repay the amounts gradually through monthly instalments equivalent to the former salaries.
The scheme remains subject to the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the state and participating banks, which must set out the operational details of the arrangement.
Timothée Manoke
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Electricity Sector Regulatory Authority (ARE) has issued a competitive tender for a hydroelectric power project at the Nfuka Mukaji falls in Haut-Lomami province. The expressions of interest call, published on Dec. 24, 2025, concerns a 94.5-MW power plant to be privately financed.
The tender follows an application for a concession submitted by Umeme Energy Sarl. After reviewing the application, the regulator determined that the project is located on public land. Under the country’s electricity law, this classification requires the ARE to open the project to competition.
Interested parties are invited to submit documentation demonstrating their capacity to develop and operate an electricity generation facility. Required elements include technical expertise, financial capacity, a track record in comparable completed projects, and the availability of qualified human resources.
The process is open only to Congolese individuals or legal entities that meet the criteria set out in the electricity law and its implementing regulations.
Expressions of interest must be submitted in a sealed envelope to the ARE headquarters in Kinshasa-Gombe by Dec. 31, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. Kinshasa time.
Following the review of applications, the ARE may establish a shortlist of up to five operators, depending on the number and quality of submissions that meet regulatory requirements.
Boaz Kabeya
CRDB Bank Congo, the Congolese subsidiary of Tanzania’s CRDB Bank Group, has opened a branch in Kinshasa, the capital, more than two years after securing an operating licence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The new branch, located in the Gombe municipality, marks the bank’s first physical presence in Kinshasa, the country’s largest banking market. Previously, CRDB Bank Congo operated only in Lubumbashi, where its headquarters are based.
The opening ceremony on Dec. 12 was attended by Kinshasa’s provincial minister for finance, economy and digitalisation, Magloire Kabemba Kabemba, representing the city’s governor, the bank said. Officials from the public and private sectors, including representatives of the Central Bank of Congo and Tanzania’s ambassador to the DRC, were also present.
The move is in line with the group’s strategy. In its 2024 annual report, CRDB said its Congolese subsidiary had launched targeted initiatives to attract strategic clients in Kinshasa, while strengthening brand visibility and laying the groundwork for market entry.
Kinshasa dominates national banking activity. A 2023 study by consultancy Target Sarl found that 42% of the country’s bank branches and service points were located in the capital.
The Kinshasa branch could allow CRDB Bank Congo to broaden its client base and reduce its reliance on government securities. The bank’s earnings remain heavily concentrated in Treasury bonds.
According to its first-half 2025 Pillar 3 report, interest income from Treasury bonds reached about 8 billion Congolese francs, accounting for roughly 77% of net banking income of 10.4 billion francs. Net interest and commission income from customer operations, including lending, totalled 1.6 billion francs, or around 15.6% of the period’s net banking income.
Timothée Manoke
With its air operator’s certificate (AOC) set to expire in December, Congo Airways has acquired an 18-year-old Embraer E190 to retain its license. The 90-seat aircraft enables the airline to avoid losing the certificate, which would have suspended its flying rights, voided insurance cover and invalidated commercial agreements. Losing the AOC would also have forced the carrier to restart a lengthy and costly certification process.
The aircraft, previously operated by Dominican airline Sky High, underwent maintenance in Toulouse, France, before arriving at Kinshasa’s N’djili International Airport on Dec. 24.
The deal forms part of a partnership between Congo Airways and the National Social Security Fund (CNSS), which holds a 31% stake in the carrier. The aircraft remains owned by the CNSS and is being leased to the airline under undisclosed terms, according to sources. CNSS officials said two additional aircraft are expected to join the fleet.
The acquisition comes as Congo Airways seeks to restart operations. The airline has been grounded since April 12, 2025, following the expiration of wet-lease contracts with Lithuanian company KlasJet. Its own aircraft remain out of service due to technical problems, including a shortage of engines and inadequate maintenance. The carrier is also burdened by significant commercial and social debts.
A turnaround plan presented in late January 2025 includes the acquisition of three Airbus A320s through lease or purchase over five years, along with a reorganisation of governance. The plan depends on financial support from public authorities, particularly the CNSS and the Congolese state.
A new management team was appointed in January 2025, with Alexandre Tshikala Mukendi named director general and Mamitsho Pontshia as deputy director general. The process later stalled. In November, at the Makutano Forum, Transport Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba said implementation of the plan was blocked by the CNSS’s refusal to guarantee a bank loan.
Weakened by persistent financial and technical difficulties, Congo Airways saw its operational fleet shrink from four aircraft to two before a complete suspension of activities in July 2024 due to recurrent technical failures.
After several months of efforts, the airline said in a Nov. 3, 2024 statement that it would gradually resume operations, with an initial flight scheduled for Nov. 10, before suspending activities again on April 12, 2025.
Ronsard Luabeya