News (953)
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
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
Plantations et Huileries du Congo (PHC), controlled by Kuramo Capital Management with an approximately 76% stake since 2021, plans to build a palm oil refinery.
In an interview with Forbes Afrique magazine published in April 2026, Managing Director Monique Gieskes said the facility is expected to come online within the next two years, pointing to a completion date around 2028.
According to the executive, the project is part of a broader vertical integration strategy. PHC has mainly produced crude palm oil and palm kernel oil, which it sells to refiners in Kinshasa and Kongo Central. The company now plans to refine part of its output while continuing to supply its existing customers with crude oil. This move would allow PHC to capture more value in the domestic market. The planned refinery’s capacity has not been disclosed.
The integration strategy will require higher output. However, data shared by Gieskes indicates stagnation over the past two years. After reaching 80,000 tons in 2023, production is expected to reach 81,000 tons in 2025. PHC nonetheless maintains its target of 100,000 tons by 2026.
The company operates three industrial sites in Boteka (Equateur), Yaligimba (Mongala), and Lokutu (Tshopo). According to management, its concessions span around 106,000 hectares, including 30,000 hectares planted with oil palms. The remaining land offers room for expansion.
PHC also points to genetic research conducted at its CREATY center in Yaligimba. Gieskes referred to experimental seeds described as “albino”, with low beta-carotene content, which could produce a lighter oil directly upon extraction. Management presents this as a promising avenue, though it has not yet been independently validated in publicly available research.
These ambitions come against the backdrop of a structurally undersupplied Congolese market. According to estimates from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), national palm oil production stands at around 300,000 tons per year, while demand exceeds 500,000 tons.
Timothée Manoke
The commissioning of the Katanda cement plant, a project led by Cement Kasai SAS and initially announced for February 2026, did not take place as scheduled and is facing delays due to persistent logistical constraints.
According to a report published by the Kasai Oriental governorate following an April 20, 2026 meeting between company officials and Governor Jean-Paul Mbwebwa, work on the site remains limited to preparatory activities. These include the construction of a living base and administrative facilities, as well as foundations for industrial equipment.
Project officials attribute the delay to difficulties in procuring equipment, compounded by poor road conditions and recent weather.
The governorate said the condition of the Lubumbashi–Mbujimayi road is severely disrupting the transport of materials. Some sections have become nearly impassable, forcing several trucks to turn back, particularly between Nguba and Likasi.
Heavy rains in recent weeks have also slowed work on the site, project managers said.
In response, the company is exploring alternative options to ensure equipment delivery. The Mbujimayi–Kalemie route was assessed, revealing more than 300 kilometers of severely degraded roads requiring rehabilitation.
Cement Kasai SAS is relying on the start of the dry season to resume work while awaiting new equipment. Governor Jean-Paul Mbwebwa reiterated the commitment of provincial authorities to help address the identified obstacles.
Launched in August 2024, the project involves the construction of a cement plant with an annual capacity of 1.2 million tons. The first phase, estimated at $400 million, targets initial production of 300,000 tons per year, with gradual expansion in later phases.
Initially expected in 2026, commissioning of the plant now depends on how quickly logistical constraints are resolved. Infrastructure remains a key factor for large-scale industrial projects in the region.
Ronsard Luabeya
The Democratic Republic of Congo is moving to better structure its cocoa exports, with an emphasis on certification standards. Trade Minister Julien Paluku Kahongya said on April 20, 2026, after a meeting with cocoa and coffee exporters, that the country had secured U.S. support to train Congolese experts in certification.
He said the DRC “must no longer depend on external intermediaries that perpetuate the status quo and enable fraud,” without providing further details on the shift.
The move comes as compliance requirements tighten in international markets, particularly in the European Union. EU rules on deforestation-linked products now require exporters to demonstrate traceability and compliance with environmental standards.
Authorities say building local certification expertise is intended to secure access to export markets and strengthen the credibility of Congolese cocoa.
Structural challenges in the sector
This reorganization comes as the sector continues to face structural constraints, particularly in Ituri province.
Data released in October 2023 by the provincial director of the National Office for Agricultural Products of the Congo (ONAPAC) estimate coffee and cocoa production at 10,000 to 15,000 metric tons per season. Officially recorded volumes are far lower, at around 900 metric tons of coffee and nearly 1,000 metric tons of cocoa, according to the same sources cited by the Congolese Press Agency.
This gap is driven by several factors, including insecurity in some production areas, which disrupts farming activity, and limited local processing capacity. Part of Ituri’s cocoa is transported to North Kivu for processing before export.
Boaz Kabeya
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Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways announced on April 17, 2026, that it will add new African destinations as part of a network expansion. Kinshasa and Lubumbashi will join its network from March 2027.
The first flight to Kinshasa is scheduled for March 18, 2027, with three weekly flights. Lubumbashi will be served via an Abu Dhabi–Harare–Lubumbashi route starting March 24, 2027, also with three weekly flights.
Etihad cited growing demand for air connectivity in Africa, particularly in trade and cargo, as the main driver of the expansion. “Demand for air connectivity in key African markets exceeds supply, particularly in cargo and trade. This expansion directly addresses that gap,” Chief Executive Antonoaldo Neves said.
The announcement comes as economic ties between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United Arab Emirates strengthen. In February 2026, the two countries signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. According to the Congolese presidency, the agreement opens the Emirati market to around 6,000 Congolese products and cuts certain customs duties for Congolese operators.
In this context, the new Etihad service could support trade flows between the DRC and the UAE, particularly for high-value goods or time-sensitive shipments. The airline added that all new routes will offer cargo capacity.
The move is part of a broader goal to raise bilateral trade to $10 billion by 2030. According to Congolese authorities, trade between the two countries rose from $1.2 billion in 2020 to $4.5 billion in 2024.
Timothée Manoke
The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has committed 2.3 million pounds ($3.1 million) to support the agribusiness sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a joint statement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on April 16, 2026.
The funding is part of a partnership to improve access to credit for agri-food businesses, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), farmers and agricultural value chain actors.
The four-year program aims to make agriculture a driver of inclusive growth. It will support local financial institutions, improve the regulatory environment and provide targeted assistance to high-potential businesses seeking financing.
The initiative will combine technical assistance and advisory services to help mobilize private investment in the sector. It is expected to benefit more than 300 women-owned SMEs and give at least 5,000 farmers and agri-food businesses access to financing and modern equipment.
A trust fund administered by the IFC
The program will operate through a trust fund administered by the IFC and will run until December 2029. It aims to attract private capital, improve living conditions and reduce the country’s reliance on food imports.
The initiative is part of the World Bank Group’s AgriConnect program. It will focus on climate-resilient agricultural financing, financial products tailored to women entrepreneurs, leasing solutions and business climate reforms, including in special economic zones.
Malick Fall, IFC country head, said the partnership should help strengthen agricultural value chains, create jobs and improve food security. Peter Fernandes Cardy, development director at the British Embassy in Kinshasa, said it would help ease investment constraints and support sustainable, climate-resilient agricultural growth.
Ronsard Luabeya
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is moving to address rising cobalt stockpiles after suspending exports in February 2025 and introducing quotas in October, in a bid to prevent a market glut and further price declines.
At a cabinet meeting on April 10, 2026, the government approved a draft decree establishing a strategic reserve for key minerals. The text still requires signature and publication in the official gazette. Cobalt, germanium and coltan have been classified as strategic minerals since November 2018, but sources say the current focus is primarily on cobalt.
Sources add that the reserve is intended to manage stockpiles accumulating as a result of export restrictions. Official data show that despite the curbs, the DRC produced 100,015.28 metric tons of cobalt in 2025. With exports limited to 44,338.47 tons, the surplus reached 55,676.81 tons.
Production is expected to continue in 2026, as cobalt is a byproduct of copper, whose prices are rising. Stockpiles could therefore keep growing, even as exports increase. Shipments could reach 114,316.55 tons this year, including 87,000 tons in company quotas, 9,600 tons in strategic allocations, and 17,716.55 tons in unused 2025 quotas carried over due to delays in the new export system, initially extended to March 31 and later to April 30, 2026.
“Without an appropriate mechanism, stockpiles could continue to grow, creating problems for both producers and the state,” Patrick Luabeya, head of the Regulatory and Market Control Authority for Strategic Minerals (Arecoms), told Jeune Afrique. The agency has been tasked with building and managing the reserve. A separate draft decree amending the November 5, 2019 regulation that created Arecoms was also adopted.
A Fragile Rebound in Prices
Rising inventories are tying up output, weighing on cash flow and increasing storage costs for mining companies, while adding downward pressure on prices. Without regulation, a sudden release of these volumes could trigger another price drop, undermining the impact of export restrictions and quotas.
The strategic reserve is designed to absorb excess supply and prevent further market destabilisation. Authorities say it will help stabilise prices, maximise the value of strategic minerals and strengthen the country’s economic sovereignty.
Jeune Afrique said it reviewed the draft decree and reported that the reserve will be held partly in the DRC and partly abroad, and built through purchases of stock held by mining companies. The financing mechanism has not been disclosed.
Despite export restrictions, the DRC still accounted for more than 76% of global cobalt output in 2024, according to the World Bank. Yet average prices stood at $33,910 per ton, well below the $80,000 peak reached in April 2022.
“This modest recovery reflects persistent oversupply, rapid growth in alternative sources, particularly mixed nickel hydroxide precipitate from Indonesia, and the accelerating shift toward cobalt-free lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, all of which are reducing demand for cobalt-rich materials,” the World Bank said in a March report on the country’s economic outlook. The institution expects cobalt prices to decline or remain broadly stable in 2026.
Pierre Mukoko
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ministry of National Economy has announced $7.7 million in funding for an agricultural program in Sud-Ubangi province in northwestern DRC. According to a statement published on April 16, 2026, the project will be implemented in partnership with Centre de développement intégral Bwamanda (CDI-Bwamanda).
The ministry said the program aims to boost local production and improve food security by supporting farmers, strengthening corn and soybean supply chains, and upgrading rural roads. It will also reinforce the value chain from production to markets in Kinshasa, the country’s main market.
The initiative is part of a broader strategy to curb the high cost of living, boost local economic activity and position agriculture as a key sector of the economy.
CDI-Bwamanda, the implementing partner, is a development NGO founded in the region in 1969. It follows a holistic approach combining agriculture, health, education, community development and technical support, with the aim of improving living standards and promoting economic independence.
The program comes alongside another ongoing agricultural initiative in the province. Since April 6, 2026, Sud-Ubangi has been part of the Integrated Program for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (PIREDD), backed by a $25 million budget.
Funded by the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) through the national REDD+ fund (FONAREDD) and implemented by Belgian agency Enabel from 2026 to 2030, the project focuses on balancing agricultural production with forest conservation. PIREDD includes support for sustainable farming practices, agroforestry development, and perennial crops such as coffee and cocoa.
Ronsard Luabeya